Author: Rhys Gregory

Training providers across Wales with access to people struggling to find employment can put forward candidates to a new pre-employment course from the Welsh Contact Centre Forum and funded by Welsh Government. The courses guarantee delegates a job interview with key employers with live vacancies. Providers are being called upon to support the Welsh Contact Centre Forum as it aims to address the demand for more employees in the sector, by offering a free intensive, interactive week-long course designed to develop industry expertise on skill building, confidence, and employability. Cardiff Council’s Into Work Advice Service is the first provider to…

Cardiff Central remained as the most used railway station in Wales, although its total number of passenger entries and exits was five million fewer than the figure from two years ago (April 2019 to March 2020). The numbers were revealed in the Office of Rail and Road’s (ORR) estimates of station usage statistics for April 2021 to March 2022, which include the annual total of passenger entries and exits at each of the 2,570 stations in Britain. Across Wales, Cardiff Central remained the busiest station during April 2021 to March 2022 with 7.5 million entries and exits, up from 2 million…

Pupils in the Vale of Glamorgan have become the first in Wales to benefit from new science education workshops provided by Wales’s home-grown internet company, Ogi. Delivered in collaboration with leading interactive education practitioners, Science Made Simple, the new programme brings broadband technology to life, helping schools to embed ultrafast connectivity and showcase the real-life application of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) subjects throughout the new curriculum. The initial pilot programme launched during the autumn term with three schools in Llantwit Major, coinciding with the completion of Ogi’s initial broadband works programme in the Vale of Glamorgan town. Classes of pupils…

The Cabinet of Bridgend County Borough Council has approved the Bridgend Biodiversity Duty Plan, 2022 to 2025, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to promoting the resilience of ecosystems. Following a review of the previous plan, involving feedback from relevant departments across the council, one of the key achievements highlighted was the landscape projects that have been delivered. Biodiversity enhancement activities at the disused coal washery site in Ogmore Vale, Ogmore Washeries, resulted in identifying a new species – namely the Brown Banded Carder bee. Another example is the ‘Dunes 2 Dunes’ project, which involved a collaboration of nature reserve managers, volunteers…

More than 30 community organisations in Swansea have now been added to a directory highlighting safe, warm and welcoming places where people can go to during the winter. Council services such as libraries and community hubs are also included in the list of Swansea Spaces where people can be assured they will be welcomed and treated with dignity and respect. Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Well-being Alyson Pugh said: “It is just over a week since the Swansea Spaces Directory went live and there has been a huge response from community groups, charities and other organisations who are providing spaces.…

Swansea Council is urging people aged 66 and over to check if they qualify for Pension Credit. Pension Credit gives extra help with living costs to people over state pension age and on a low income. People might get extra help if they are a carer, severely disabled, or responsible for a child or young person. Hayley Gwilliam, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Support, said: “The cost of living crisis is hitting us all and we know that there are pensioners in Swansea who are struggling to make ends meet yet are missing out on money that they are…

What’s known as the Milbourne Chambers building is a well-known sight in Merthyr Tydfil town centre — with its recognisable clocktower and central location. Despite having multiple occupants over the decades, the building is soon to begin a new chapter — with the arrival of Italian restaurant, Casa Bianca; the first eatery to occupy the space. The new venture has been made possible by an investment from the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns Placemaking scheme — delivered in conjunction with our dedicated town centre regeneration team at Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council and topped up by the business owner’s own investment.…

Work to introduce an improved walking and cycling route between Llanelwedd and Builth Wells will begin early next month (5 December). The route for the shared use path was identified and agreed during previous public consultations on the county’s Active Travel Network Maps. To be funded by the Welsh Government Safe Routes in Communities Grant, this scheme will mark the first phase of establishing an active travel route connecting Builth Wells and Llanelwedd, and the beginning of a local active travel network. Expected to be completed in approximately eight weeks, the scheme will consist of two safe highways crossings, one…

From Pembrokeshire to Barry Island, there are more amusement and theme parks in Wales than you may realise! The area is teeming with places to go and things to see, but if you want good, clean fun, it also has plenty in store. These amusement and theme parks are open all year, and if you want the kids (and adults) to have fun, we’ve got just the thing – and the best part is, they’re spread out all around Wales, so an hour’s drive (or less) will take you there. Here are the most popular theme parks in Wales today.…

In the latest of a series of lettings that form a key part of Schroders Capital’s strategic repositioning of Mermaid Quay, Schroders Capital UK Real Estate Fund (‘SCREF’) has agreed a deal to bring Thai tapas chain Giggling Squid to the popular 150,000 sq ft mixed-use destination on Cardiff Bay’s waterfront. Giggling Squid will occupy a high-profile, 4,800 sq ft unit on the terrace level of the scheme, overlooking the recently refurbished central Tacoma Square and the Bay. The restaurant will be created by combining units previously occupied by Bayside Brasserie and Bellini’s Italian restaurants operated by independent restaurateur Babak…