Author: Rhys Gregory

As Wales’ Chief Veterinary Officer, Christianne Glossop, stands down after 17 years in the role, the Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths has thanked her for her outstanding contribution to animal health and welfare. Professor Glossop is Wales’ first Chief Veterinary Officer following the devolution of animal health and welfare powers in 2005.  She was appointed after spending time in the State Veterinary Service, now known as APHA, dealing with the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak of 2001 and then bovine TB. Minister for Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths said: “Christianne’s contribution to animal health and welfare in Wales is immense.  During…

New high quality, free, diversity and anti-racist professional learning (DARPL) is now available to all education professionals across Wales, as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic histories and experiences become a mandatory part of the Curriculum for Wales. The Welsh Government is committed to creating an Anti-Racist Wales by 2030, which calls for zero tolerance of racism in all its guises. In order to achieve this, our education system must broaden pupils’ understanding and knowledge of the diverse cultures which have built our past and present. This new professional learning will help achieve our ambition. Wales’ first Black headteacher, Betty Campbell…

More than 15,600 Welsh farms will receive a share of over £161m when Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) 2022 advance payments are being made today (Friday 14 October), Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths has announced. This means 97% of claimants will receive a BPS advance payment worth 70% of their estimated claim value. This is the second year Rural Payments Wales (RPW) is making automatic BPS advance payments in October. Before 2021, BPS payments commenced from 1 December annually. Regulation changes made by the Minister following the end of the EU Exit Implementation Period simplified the requirements for BPS. This sees…

We live in an era when one factor stands out and is the most common when you move from one person to the next: options. With this, there is always the freedom of making a choice and embracing one or various courses of action. Online casinos have made the most of this to significantly improve players’ overall experience. Among the many options that players are offered on online gambling platforms is the freedom to either play for free or engage in real money gambling. Both provide players with the chance to enjoy a quality gaming experience. For this reason, it…

The Development Bank of Wales has confirmed its third equity investment in Wagonex, the UK’s leading mobility subscription platform provider – just one week after the announcement of a first strategic investment by Admiral Pioneer. Launched in 2016, Wagonex designs, builds, and manages flexible, all-inclusive technology automotive subscription platforms, which enable vehicle suppliers to offer subscription options direct to consumers. They provide a seamless end-to-end customer journey, with an automated credit decision engine, creating flexible contracts inclusive of road tax, insurance, breakdown cover, and servicing. Wagonex has delivered more than 120 per cent year-on-year growth since relocating to Cardiff in…

THOUSANDS of visitors are set to descend on South Wales for a much-anticipated celebration of careers and education. SkillsCymru 2022 will be held at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff over two days from Wednesday October 19. Organised by Optimus Education – part of Shaw Trust – the free event is accessible for the whole family as a ‘Twilight Session’ will be held for parents and carers from 4pm-6.30pm on the opening day. There they will be able to join their children in discovering the latest advice on careers, training courses and qualifications and make informed choices about their future. With…

A Welsh social enterprise is ramping up its apprenticeship programme thanks to a growing order book of work that’s worth £68 million over the next five years. Mother of two Holly Joinson, 28, is among the latest recruits to sign up for an apprenticeship thanks to Creating Enterprise – a subsidiary of housing association Cartrefi Conwy – who’ve helped more than 500 into work since it was set up in 2015. Creating Enterprise have pioneered the construction of modular, energy efficient homes and have a factory in Rhyl where they make the timber frames, roof joists and fencing. The construction…

On May 26 2020, officers stopped Richard Watkins, 43, from Ebbw Vale who was driving a pick-up truck, after he was seen to meet with Daniel O’Hara, 47, from the West Midlands area. Covert officers witnessed the two meet in Ross-on-Wye and exchange packages. On that day, officers stopped Watkins and found 3kg of cocaine in the footwell of the truck. O’Hara was stopped shortly after by West Midlands police on the M5 near Birmingham, where £89,980 cash was found in a carrier bag in his car. They were both arrested and conveyed to Bridgend police station. Investigations from the…

The best local and international knowledge and expertise will be shared with Conwy tourism and hospitality businesses at a series of 10 free events which begin on Monday. The Tourism Innovation Programme events, which include keynote speakers, facilitated discussion forums, workshops, masterclasses and training, aim to provide valuable knowledge and insight for businesses to take away and apply immediately. This programme is funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund and supported by Grŵp Llandrillo Menai and Mostyn Estates. Visit northwalestourism.com/tourism-innovation-programme/ for full details about the events and how to register. A ‘Best of Conwy’ networking event, which aims…

Aberystwyth University has launched a new hub to study artificial intelligence in response to a technology that presents some of the greatest opportunities this decade to transform society. The Hub involves academics from across the University collaborating in areas such as robotics and machine learning, astrophysics, medical treatment, drug discovery and future foods through a series of workshops, conferences, and collaborations. In recent years, the University has been involved in a number of high-profile projects involving the technology. In June 2022, it worked with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water on an artificial intelligence system that helped monitor the reliability of water…