Author: Rhys Gregory

TWO leading education institutions have joined forces to target recovery and growth in sectors hard-hit by the Coronavirus pandemic. Coleg Cambria and Bangor University will be working closely to develop new strategic pathways and support employers as they build back after a challenging period for all industries. Cambria’s Chief Executive Yana Williams and Vice Chancellor of Bangor University, Professor Iwan Davies, announced the partnership at the formal opening of the college’s Hafod building at Yale in Wrexham today (Wednesday), where they were joined by Jeremy Miles MS, Minister for Education and Welsh Language. The £21m development was completed by Bodelwyddan-based…

AN AWARD-WINNING recruitment firm pivoted in the pandemic to meet demand for high-flying candidates. S2 Recruitment – part of the Colwyn Bay and Bangor-based Supertemps Group – is focused on filling positions in managerial and executive roles, with a particular vacancy rise in areas such as HR, business analytics, IT, and finance. Candice Chartrand is spearheading the department and says there has been a surge in applications and interest in past months. Originally from Canada, the 33 year-old moved to the UK aged 21 and completed a degree in Business before working in visual merchandising and telesales and joining Supertemps…

Wales is set to become the first UK nation to make teaching of Black, Asian and minority ethnic histories and experiences mandatory in the school curriculum Subject to final sign-off by the Senedd next month, the Welsh Government has added learning about the diversity of communities, in particular the stories of Black, Asian and minority ethnic people, into the new Curriculum for Wales guidance, coinciding with the start of Black History Month. The new Curriculum framework is due to be introduced from September 2022, following years of work by teachers and other education professionals in its development. The Curriculum will…

The Welsh Government is further extending incentives to support businesses in recruiting apprentices in Wales until February 2022. The Apprenticeship Employer Incentive Scheme is a key part of Welsh Government’s Covid Commitment to support businesses and workers in recovering from the impacts of coronavirus. The incentives have already seen more than 5,500 new apprentices recruited since August 2020. The incentives had been due to close yesterday (30th September 2021), but will now continue to support businesses until 28th February 2022. Under the scheme businesses are able to claim up to £4,000 for each new apprentice they hire under the age…

The motorist who died after the Kawasaki motorcycle he was driving was involved in a single vehicle collision in Cowbridge has been named. Named locally as Matthew Rouch, 41, from Penarth. His family have released the following statement paying tribute to him: “Matthew was a loving father, son and brother. “As a family we will treasure the memories of the amazing man he was, and hold him forever in our hearts. “Matthew will be sorely missed.” We are continuing to appeal for witnesses to the collision which happened at around 7.30pm on Wednesday 29 September on the A48 near Cowbridge,…

With an ever-increasing number of TV productions choosing to be based in Wales over the summer, Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, Dawn Bowden recently had a behind the scenes tour of Wolf Studios Wales – and saw first-hand the benefits to the Welsh economy, and growth in local employment, that the surge in TV production has brought to the creative sector in Cardiff and beyond. Filming for the third season of His Dark Materials is currently underway with over 500 jobs being created in Wolf Studios Wales –supported with funding from Creative Wales. Wolf Studios Wales is one of…

Health Minister Eluned Morgan has confirmed more than a billion items of free personal protective equipment (PPE) have been issued to the NHS and social care sector across Wales since the start of the pandemic. Since March 2020, the Welsh Government has been working with NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP) to provide free PPE to everyone working in health and social care. Free PPE will continue to be supplied to primary care and social care for as long as it is needed during the pandemic. A service level agreement with the Welsh Local Government Association – which makes sure…

Caerphilly County Borough Council is progressing plans for the reopening of its buildings to the public. The Council’s Cabinet has approved proposals to begin the reopening of several of its buildings, in line with Alert Level Zero guidance from Welsh Government. From Monday 4th October appointment-only visits will be available for members of the public at the Council’s Penallta House headquarters.  Appointments can be made by contacting the Council’s Customer Services Team on 01443 866571; visitors without an appointment will not be able to access the building. Cllr Colin Gordon, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, said “Throughout the…

One of the most prominent buildings in Mountain Ash town centre, the former town hall, has had a makeover, making it fit for purpose in the 21st Century. The Grade II listed building, majestically overlooking the town bridge at Ffrwd Crescent, was originally built in 1904 at a cost of £5,000. It initially served as the main offices of Mountain Ash Urban District Council and has continued to be used as a property of the respective local authority. Having gained its listed status with Cadw due to its architecture and design, the premises has now been redeveloped into a co-working business hub by Final Frontier Space Holdings…

The number of people visiting Cardiff City Centre in August this year is only 5% less than it was in August 2019, the year before the pandemic struck. The figures show that Cardiff is bucking the Wales-wide trend and that of other UK cities, which on average are seeing a drop of 17.7% and 23% in footfall respectively. The figures give a clear indication that the city centre is recovering from the pandemic, quicker than expected. Cllr Russell Goodway, Cabinet Member for Investment and Development at Cardiff Council said: “During August 2021, the footfall figures in the city centre were…