Author: Rhys Gregory

Five-year-old Leo White from Greater Manchester is the first child in the world to receive a paediatric leg cover. Leo was presented with his own Pokémon leg cover at Christmas by Mark Williams, founder of Wales’ Limb-art who invented it. Leo was born with a left leg 50 per cent shorter than his right leg due to a congenital condition called Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency (PFFD) and Fibular Hemimelia (FH) which were picked up at his mum’s 20-week antenatal scan. The family were put in touch with the Ability Centre in South Manchester, where they met the team who would…

A father-of-three has gone from being a 23 stone couch potato to running 5k races thanks to life-changing TV show. Sion Huw Davies, who teaches Welsh at Sir Richard Gwyn School, in Flint, had seen his weight balloon to 23 stone before he took the plunge and signed up to S4C’s popular FFIT Cymru series, made by Caernarfon-based Cwmni Da. Now 50-year-old Sion, a much healthier and happier man at 19 stone, has even built up his own collection of colourful medals from a series of races over the last few months. His message is that, for anyone fighting a…

An award-winning graduate programme launched at the height of the pandemic to tackle a national data and artificial intelligence (AI) skills shortage, has been heralded as setting the example for how Wales can create stronger employability and development offerings. The Fast Track Data/AI graduate Programme is a partnership between leading Welsh businesses and academics led by the Welsh Contact Centre Forum. Speaking at the event to welcome the second intake of graduates to join the Programme, Minister for Economy, Vaughan Gething, credited the partnership’s success in supporting the growth of Wales’ technology sector. Today, businesses operating in every sector across…

The Farmers’ Union of Wales’ Milk and Dairy produce Committee has warned that rising energy prices are not sustainable for the sector. The warning comes after reports from dairy farmers of energy costs rising by up to £1000 a month, with costs expected to increase further. Responding to the crisis, FUW Milk and Dairy Produce Committee Chairman Dai Davies said: “The farming sector in general is already under huge pressure. The increase in energy prices, which in some cases have been reported to be an extra £1000 a month for dairy businesses, is a blow for all in the industry.”…

Known as ‘Blue Monday’, the third Monday of every January is said to be the ‘saddest day of the year’ based on a number of factors, including debt levels, weather and post-Christmas gloom. However, not all the evidence behind the day is accurate and the annual event could actually have a negative impact on those struggling with their mental health, argues Christina Papadopoulos, GP at digital healthcare provider, Livi. The origins of Blue Monday: “The concept originally appeared in a travel firm’s press release to sell holidays in 2005. It was supported by Cliff Arnold, psychologist and life coach, who supposedly developed an algorithm for when the saddest day of the year would occur.  It was said to be based on the…

Leading independent insurance brokers Towergate Insurance Brokers has expanded its Welsh team with a significant new appointment. Stuart Daviss joins Towergate Insurance Brokers as an account executive, bringing a wealth of industry experience from his time spent working as an account director at Creative Risk Solutions Ltd. In his new role, he will be engaging with clients directly, growing relationships to provide them with sound insurance and risk management advice. He will predominantly focus on the commercial and corporate sectors, in South and West Wales, with some clients in North Wales and Bristol. Discussing his new role, Stuart said: “This…

A Professor in Conservation Science at Bangor University has been appointed to a prestigious Chair at Utrecht University in The Netherlands. Julia Jones is to be the holder of the Prince Bernhard Chair for International Nature Conservation, for a period of five years. “This appointment is a huge honour,” said Julia. “Scientists who have held this chair before are absolute giants of conservation science and all have made huge contributions in their fields. I’m delighted to be following in their footsteps. During my tenure as chair, I particularly hope to bring more recognition for the social aspects of conservation into…

Ambitious plans to bring new life to Aberystwyth University’s iconic Old College have taken a major step forward, with the announcement of the project’s principal building contractor. Port Talbot based Andrew Scott Ltd will take on the challenge of transforming one of Wales’s outstanding Grade 1 listed buildings, and home to Wales’ first University College, into a major centre for learning, heritage, culture and enterprise. The company will take over the site immediately and begin work on the project as soon as all necessary preparatory steps are completed. The appointment of Andrew Scott Ltd marks the beginning of the construction…

A pioneering council-led project, designed to encourage greater use of Welsh timber in the construction industry, has won three prestigious awards. Home-Grown Homes was launched to identify and test interventions that could have a transformative impact on the Welsh timber construction supply chain and on the delivery of low carbon social housing in Wales. Led by Powys County and funded by the Welsh Government and the EU Rural Development Programme. The research project was delivered by Woodknowledge Wales with project partners Cardiff Metropolitan University, Coed Cymru and BM TRADA. The project picked up the Innovation and Value awards at the…

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet has unanimously endorsed ambitious regeneration proposals for the Lower Ebbw and Sirhowy Valleys area, subject to public consultation. A 6 week consultation process will be carried out, between 19 January and  March 2022, where members of the public will be asked to give their views on the draft Lower Ebbw and Sirhowy Valleys Masterplan.  The draft plan focusses on the corridor between the centres of Newbridge and Risca. As well as building upon the existing employment and tourist strengths in this locality, the Masterplan aims to further promote the area as a major base for…