Author: Rhys Gregory

A PIONEERING salon highlighted its support for the hard-hit hair and beauty sector. Salon Ial at the new-look Coleg Cambria Yale site in Wrexham is offering space to start-up and mobile businesses, as well as job and training opportunities for those wanting to join the industry. The initiative is open to hairdressers, beauty therapists, complementary therapists, nail technicians and make-up artists. With Covid-19 having a negative impact on hair and beauty – there was a 21% decrease in full time employment resulting in widespread closures, with turnover falling by more than 40% UK-wide – this will give interested parties a…

More than £1 billion has been recovered from the proceeds of crime and tax offenders since the formation of a specialist HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) fraud squad five years ago. Launched in April 2016, the department’s Fraud Investigation Service (FIS) has now recovered assets equivalent to funding around 20,000 NHS nurses for an entire year. FIS has been proactively pursuing the suspected proceeds of crime using enforcement powers, both criminal and civil, to disrupt the movement of cash and assets. Since 2016, more than 1,200 seizures of cash and assets have been made while on operational duty, including gold…

Rail passengers are being asked to check before they travel as Transport for Wales updates its emergency rail timetable from Monday 3 January. TfW and Network Rail have continued to see a significant increase in staff absences as a result of the latest wave of the Covid-19 pandemic and this has impacted rail services in recent weeks. As a result, TfW introduced an emergency rail timetable from 22 December, which equated to a reduction of between 10-15% of the standard timetable introduced on 12 December. However, with staff absences continuing to increase, the decision has been taken to further reduce…

Civil Service Sports Council Group Chief Executive Simon Lee from Monmouthshire has been named as a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2022 New Year’s Honours list. Development Executive Hedley Featherstone, was also named on this year’s list, which recognises individuals who have provided long-term, significant services to their communities. Simon Lee has led CSSC since 2012 and has transformed the organisation, which supports over 140,000 civil servants across the UK to lead healthier lives, delivering consistent membership growth every year. It is under Simon’s leadership that CSSC began offering members free access to English Heritage…

The Minister for Health and Social Services, Eluned Morgan and Chief Executive for the NHS Wales Judith Paget have offered their congratulations to NHS Wales employees who have been recognised in the Queen’s New Year Honours. Eight individuals from across NHS Wales have been awarded. The Chief Medical Officer for Wales Dr Frank Atherton has also been awarded a Knighthood for his role in the COVID-19 pandemic. Minister for Health and Social Services Eluned Morgan said: “A huge congratulations to everyone in NHS Wales who has been honoured in the Queen’s New Year Honours. It is good to see people…

Wales has had one of the busiest periods of film and television activity ever in 2021, with over 24 productions shooting across the country between May to October – which means there will be many opportunities to see our beautiful country on screen in 2022 Over the Christmas period, Doctor Who fans will be treated to the first of three specials which will mark the last outing for Jodie Whitaker as the Doctor. Swansea’s own Russell T Davies will return as showrunner to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the series in 2023, with BBC Studios partnering Bad Wolf to produce.…

All health boards in Wales have confirmed as of the end of 2021 that they have offered a booster vaccination appointment to all eligible adults. Offers have been made to anyone eligible through a range of methods including letters, texts, online booking and walk-in options. More than 1.5 million boosters have been given to date, with 81 per cent of over 50s receiving the booster dose. Around 80 per cent of people aged 12 and above are currently eligible for the booster. Of those, 71 per cent of people have already had their booster. Health boards will be contacting everyone…

During his New Year message, the First Minister said Happy new year to you all. I hope you’ve all had a happy and peaceful Christmas. As the year draws to a close, it is a moment to look back on what has been another extraordinary And for many people, and at times, a difficult year. I want to pause for a moment to reflect on all the people, right across Wales, who have helped keep us safe. Once again, our incredible frontline workers and NHS staff have gone far beyond the call of duty – working day in and day…

As the climate crisis worsens, more and more people look to governments and state parties for change and leadership – a united front against an existential threat to life on our planet. Much faith has been put in the meeting of country leaders to forge a global path of climate redemption, in the form of summits and congregations to inspire co-operation and shared goals. In 1992, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was born, incorporating 197 world nations in one convention – commonly known as the Congregation of Parties, or COP. Perhaps the most significant COP summit prior…

Enbarr Foundation director Vicki Roskams and fellow ‘Guardians’ of the John Summers Clock Tower in Deeside are hoping more people join their “revolution” in 2022 and help bring the dilapidated building back to life. More than £600,000 in grants and financial support was secured over the last 12 months from organisations including Welsh Government, Transport for Wales, the National Lottery, the Welsh Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA), Comic Relief, Architectural Heritage, CADW, Parc Adfer and Flintshire County Council. And the many kind donors and hundreds of people who volunteer every week will be rewarded with a belated Christmas party on…