Author: Rhys Gregory

Recruitment is a complex process, and a good hiring manager knows they can’t take shortcuts. Yet, some tasks seem simple but require attention to detail. Candidate testing is one of those things that people think about far too little and can waste both time and money if not adequately considered ahead of time. In this article, we’ll discuss how to use candidate testing and what you should look for in your candidates’ answers. The List of Candidate Tests That You Can Take You may be familiar with candidate testing but may not know how to conduct one or which questions…

When it comes to heat loss from windows, glass is usually the key culprit. Although it might seem like a small piece of the puzzle, glass accounts for around 72% of the heat that gets lost through a window. Most houses in the UK require Reglazing and sash window draught-proofing to combat heat loss. The window’s function is to let light in; that’s why the surface of the window consists mostly of glass. Other factors, such as window placement and insulation around the edges of the window and between moving sliding sashes, also play a role in heat loss from…

Comedian and writer Kiri Pritchard-McLean hosts a new stand-up comedy series, Live From Barry Island, featuring emerging talent and established comedians from across the UK. In the first episode of the series, Valleys-born Morgan Rees takes to the stage to discuss his grandfather’s marriage to a much younger wife, and Australian Ray Bardan is coming to terms with needing a coat since his move to the UK. Anna Thomas is up next, and shares how since moving from Carmarthenshire to England, she has been confused for Dutch and even treats the audience to a song and a reading from her…

Right across the UK, Christmas 2022 will be a time for tradition, but nowhere more so than here in Wales. For centuries, the Plygain was a part of the festivities, with Welsh people up and down the country congregating together in the early hours of the morning to sing carols a capella.  Of course, few people are prepared for a 3am march through their village or town for some midnight singing, but plenty of other Welsh Christmas traditions live on. Examples of this include the Porthcawl Christmas Day beach swim and Boxing Day Lido Swim in Ponty, the New Year’s…

Eight University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) students are training hard in readiness to compete at the national finals of this year’s WorldSkills UK competition-based development programme. Five are students at the University’s Advanced Manufacturing Skills Academy and three finalists are studying Cyber Security and Network Infrastructure at the University. They will join 500 finalists competing for gold, silver and bronze at the competitions, which will take place in venues across the four corners of the UK. These competition venues are Barking & Dagenham, Belfast Metropolitan, Blackpool & The Fylde, Cardiff & Vale, Edinburgh, and Middlesbrough colleges, which will host a total of…

The UK’s biggest retro festival brand Let’s Rock have announced the headliners and performers for Let’s Rock Wales, happening Saturday May 27 at Cardiff’s Bute Park. Let’s Rock Wales 2023 will be headlined by Soft Cell and Wet Wet Wet in an incredible line-up which also includes Tony Hadley, Imagination, Nik Kershaw, Go West, Heather Small, Heatwave, Hue & Cry, Five Star and many more. Electronic music pioneers Marc Almond & Dave Ball aka Soft Cell have sold over 10million albums worldwide and enjoyed twelve UK Top 40 hits in the early ‘80s, including their mega global No.1 smash “Tainted…

Cardiff’s celebration of the iconic arcades returns to in-person events for the first time since 2019, with a full week of events, experiences, exclusive offers, and celebrations across the city centre. Opening with City of Arcades day on Saturday 29 October, the week will include over 35 events across the seven arcades, and various other city-centre locations; including Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff Story Museum, and Cardiff Central Market. Starting the week with a packed line-up, Saturday’s events include live music performances, walking tours, an Autumn Harvest Pudding Club, food tasting, jewellery-making, a Halloween themed drag show, and a poetry reading…

A new development that will turn a former brownfield site in Llantwit Fardre, near Pontypridd, into a neighbourhood of 95 homes has opened to the public. The development, called Coed Derw, is a project by homebuilder Bellway and will include 87 two, three and four-bedroom houses for private sale and eight affordable homes for rent or shared ownership. The first homes were released for sale at the start of October, when a sales office was opened on site. The land, off Llantrisant Road, was once home to the chemical and care product manufacturer Clariant, but it was left vacant after…

Tramshed Tech, ‘The Home of Startups in Wales’, has opened its new co-working hub in Barry’s Goodsheds complex, offering workspaces, business support services and skills training to entrepreneurs, startups and scaling businesses. Since Tramshed Tech opened its first co-working space in Grangetown, Cardiff in 2016, it has developed an award-winning brand and class-leading reputation, supporting a growing community of members. As well as developing an award-winning Startup Academy, Tramshed Tech has secured partnerships with industry leaders across the UK and Europe unlocking an impactful network to their members and delivering access to programmes such as the Barclay Eagle Labs and…

Hodge has strengthened its Board with the appointment of a new Senior Independent Director. In addition to the main Board, Penny will sit on the Audit, Risk and Remuneration committees. Penny Bickerstaff brings financial, operational and advisory experience to the role, as a former Finance Director and Big Four Partner. She has worked closely with FTSE 100 groups including Barclays, Legal and General and Marks & Spencer, and with UK Government departments on issues including audit, risk, strategy, regulation, change and transformation. A chartered accountant, Penny also brings some prior board experience to her new position, having served on several…