Author: Rhys Gregory

A donation of professional camera equipment from the University of South Wales (USW) is set to help budding photographers from all walks of life to enjoy creative, hands-on workshops with Ffotogallery Cardiff. Ffotogallery is the national development agency for photography and lens-based media in Wales, presenting exhibitions by Welsh and international artists, as well as film screenings and community workshops. As part of its Engagement and Learning Programme, Ffotogallery runs workshops and courses to create opportunities for learners to develop practical and theoretical photography skills. Some recent projects have included working in partnership with Engage Cymru, Wales Millennium Centre and…

Almost 10 years on from the CIPD’s ground-breaking research* on zero-hours contracts, its latest research shows there needs to be a more balanced and nuanced debate about their place in the labour market, that recognises both the positives and downsides to zero-hours work. The CIPD’s new research ‘Zero-hours contracts – Evolution and current status’– shows that this kind of arrangement – where there’s no guaranteed minimum number of hours that must be worked – is an established part of the UK labour market. It finds that the number of people on ZHCs has changed little since 2015, making up just…

One of the highest profile events in the Welsh food safety calendar will be held in-person for the first time since October 2019. The 19th annual UK Association for Food Protection (UKAFP) conference, which is organised by ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre at Cardiff Met University, is set to take place at the All Nations Centre in Cardiff on Wednesday 16th November 2022 and will focus on the topic of “The Changing Food Safety Landscape.” Around 200 delegates from food manufacturing, environmental health and academia will hear from industry leading speakers including Nathan Barnhouse, Director of Wales for the Food Standards…

A courageous cop who won an award for single-handedly stepping in to stop a gang beating up a defenceless man is spearheading a police recruitment drive. Mum-of-three Clare Larkey-Jones, 48, was alone after coming off duty one evening when she broke up the attack on the Maes in Caernarfon, an act that has seen her honoured at a reception at 10, Downing Street. She said: “I had just finished an 11-hour shift and was picking my brother and his girlfriend up in at The Maes in Caernarfon before going home when I heard a lot of shouting. “I told my…

Award-winning film ‘Staying (Aros Mae)’, which was filmed in the Elan and Claerwen Valleys, near Rhayader in 2019, was screened in the town on Saturday to thank the community who helped make it. Written and directed by previous Elan Valley artist-in-residence Zillah Bowes, ‘Staying (Aros Mae)’ features members of the community as cast, including Stephen and Kerena Pugh who were chosen to play farmer Huw and his wife Megan. The short fiction film is about Ruth, played by actor and 9Bach singer Lisa Jên Brown, a newly divorced gallery manager selling her city home, who sees a video of a sheepdog for sale…

A new service to help relieve irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms is now available to patients at GP practices across Swansea Bay. The service, run by the health board’s IBS lead dietitian, provides specialist advice to people diagnosed with the condition. IBS affects the large intestine and symptoms can include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhoea or constipation, or both. While there is no cure, diet changes can often help to control the symptoms. Those who are referred to the service are given a specific diet which, by eliminating specific foods at a time, can help them identify what…

Cardiff Bus has announced changes to its services for Bank Holiday Monday and is encouraging customers to make the most of its summer timetables before the new academic year begins. Sunday timetables will be followed on Bank Holiday Monday – 29th August – and the operator’s customer service operation will be closed. With temporary summer timetables ending on Saturday 3rd September, Cardiff Bus is encouraging customers to take advantage of its Summer Services for the remaining weeks of the holidays. Monday 29th August – 4th September will be the last week during which customers can take advantage of extra baycar…

Brecon-based shearer and Lister Ambassador, Lloyd Rees, sets a new British record with 902 sheep sheared in nine hours at Blaenbwch Farm, Powys. Starting at 5 am on Friday 19th August, Lloyd Rees sheared 203 in the first two-hour run. He tallied 174, 171, and 177 in the next three runs, before bagging the record with 177 sheep sheared in the final run. Shearing on average just over 100 sheep an hour, Lloyd Rees was on target to hit his goal of 900. Lloyd has been a long-standing ambassador for Lister and provided all of the shearing equipment and gear…

Swansea Building Society will sponsor the Welsh Equine Endurance Team for the second year running at the Home International Endurance Championships – one of the most prestigious equine events in Europe. The event will take place between the 9th – 11th September at Longnewton, near Melrose, in the Scottish Borders. Last year, the Welsh team romped home to win the Celtic Challenge and came second in the Home International. This year, the team is aiming to go one better and win both trophies. The competition has horses and riders competing over courses ranging from 40km in one day to a…

Hodge has added three new experienced managers to its Commercial Lending team. Andy Buss has joined as a senior business development manager along with David Hales as senior development finance manager and Jon Hankins as senior relationship manager. Andy Buss joins Hodge from Cambridge and Counties Bank, and before that he spent nearly 20 years at NatWest in the Commercial Real Estate team, working with property developers and investors in the south west of England. At Hodge, Andy will be building relationships with brokers and intermediaries in the commercial property investment sector and helping customers with their property portfolio plans.…