Author: Rhys Gregory

Gas emergency and pipeline service, Wales & West Utilities, has been recognised for the eighth consecutive year by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA). The company has received its eighth gold award in recognition of its outstanding and exemplary health and safety record, whilst it has also been highly commended in the Oil & Gas Industry Sector. Wales & West Utilities is the company that look after the pipes that keep the gas flowing to heat the homes and power businesses of 7.5m people across Wales and south west England. They operate the gas emergency service, connect…

Welsh fitness company AFLUENCR, led by Founder and CEO Gareth Manger, today announced a multi-million-dollar (NZ) acquisition by New Zealand based MacroActive, the transactional SaaS platform powering many of the world’s most influential online health and fitness professionals. A former junior Welsh judo champion, Manger established AFLUENCR through his passion for fitness and desire to help other fitness entrepreneurs successfully scale their online businesses.  Launched in 2019, AFLUENCR is a full-service agency offering management, strategic planning, digital advertising and bespoke design services on top of the white labelled MacroActive fitness, mindset and nutrition platform. Manger will now join the executive…

AN EMPLOYMENT and training service is targeting new candidates to help meet unprecedented demand for workers in the social care sector. Conwy Employment Hub is holding virtual sessions that will introduce would-be recruits to roles within the industry, held over four days later this month. In partnership with the Welsh Government and WeCare Wales, the Hub – which oversees the Communities for Work, Communities for Work Plus, and PaCE initiatives – is hoping to attract people who are currently NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training). With the UK facing a care jobs crisis – Brexit and mandatory vaccinations are…

Market leading Health, Safety and ESG risk management provider Alcumus today announces the acquisition of UK-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider Simple Compliance. Complementing Alcumus’ existing technology solutions, Simple Compliance streamlines EHSQ (Environment, Health, Safety, Quality) processes providing employees and contractors quick and simple access to data. Developed by health and safety experts across the private and public sectors, Simple Compliance allows organisations to manage their regulatory and contractual compliance obligations. The acquisition will provide existing customers of Simple Compliance access to wider EHSQ capabilities, as well as the full range of Alcumus’ risk management products and advisory services. The acquisition forms…

Hay Festival has today unveiled its free autumn Programme for Schools including two days of in-person events at Hay Festival Winter Weekend, 24-25 November, alongside in-person Beacons Project and Welsh Scribblers Tour events across Wales. Welsh language Scribblers Tour events take place in-person on 3 November at Bangor University and on 4 November at Aberystwyth University, bringing creative inspiration direct to transition-year pupils (Years 6 and 7). Welsh poets Gruffudd Owen and Rufus Mufasa will lead the workshops alongside host Aneirin Karadog at both universities, with writers Mererid Hopwood, Eurig Salisbury and Hywel Griffiths adding to the programme at Aberystwyth, while Osian Owen joins at Bangor. A free in-person Programme for Schools…

Farmers’ Union of Wales members from Carmarthenshire and Union officials recently discussed critical climate change issues facing the agricultural industry with Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters MS. Union officials acknowledged that given the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the role played by soils and plants in sequestering carbon is attracting significant attention, with a particular focus by the Welsh Government on planting trees. FUW Carmarthen County Chairman Phil Jones said: “The FUW supports the overall aims of the Welsh Government with regards to environmental issues but we are concerned that a number of recent policy proposals…

Video consultations have been a hit with people in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, a review of the NHS Wales Video Consulting (VC) Service has revealed. Following a successful first phase evaluation of the NHS Wales Video Consulting (VC) Service, the TEC Cymru team have launched the findings from a second phase evaluation of the service. In direct response to COVID-19, TEC Cymru and partners established the NHS Wales Video Consulting Service (NHS Wales VC Service) which provides safe access to healthcare online. The service is utilised across all health settings in Wales, including pharmacies, prisons, opticians, and dental…

The Cyber Resilience Centre for Wales (WCRC) is delighted to welcome three of the region’s most high-profile police chiefs to its team. Jeff Cuthbert who is Police & Crime Commissioner for Gwent and the Welsh PCC’s lead for cyber, Chief Constable Pam Kelly and NPCC lead for Cyber in Wales both join the centre’s board, and Assistant Chief Constable for the South Wales Police Dave Thorne has also taken up the post of Co-Director of the WCRC alongside Detective Superintendent Paul Peters. As PCC for Gwent, Jeff brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this role, operating also as…

Swansea’s on-going regeneration throughout the pandemic has been a ‘real boost’ to the city, according to a local business. Hayley Davies and Keith Thomas, of JCP Solicitors, say the multi-million pound investments in the city mean Swansea’s business community is positive about the future. Regeneration being led by Swansea Council includes the £135m Copr Bay phase one development, featuring the 3,500-capacity Swansea Arena, a 1.1-acre coastal park, a landmark bridge, car parking, new homes and spaces for leisure and hospitality businesses. With Copr Bay phase one construction due for completion in the autumn, this follows on from a £12m transformation…

A number of measures used to help keep pupils and staff safe at schools in the Swansea Bay area last term are to be retained. Due to the high number of people across the region testing positive for Covid-19, public health leaders are asking schools to retain a number of precautions that were in place before the summer in line with latest Welsh Government guidance. This means that pupils and staff at comprehensives will continue to be encouraged to take twice weekly LFT tests and be expected to wear face coverings indoors although not in classrooms. Face masks will also…