Author: Rhys Gregory

A Helicopter has given a much needed lift to work on a key section of one of Wales’ most popular paths. Contractors working for the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB have been busy repairing a key section of the Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail as it crosses Ruabon Moor. As part of the project, over 250 tonnes of reclaimed stone flags were airlifted onto the moor. A helicopter was used to lift in materials to this remote site as an alternative to vehicles, which would have had far more damaging impact upon the fragile habitats found at the moor.…

Ceredigion schools will aim to re-open for face to face learning for all pupils on Monday, 10 January 2022. Distance learning will be provided for the majority of learners on Friday 7 January 2022. Some groups of learners, including learners in years 11 and 13 will attend school for face to face provision on Friday 7 January 2022. The number of COVID-19 cases in Ceredigion continues to be exceptionally high at a rate of 1,587per 100,000 of the population, with 1,154 of cases reported in the last 7 days. The Council is facing increasing staffing absences across all its services…

A local commercial property developer has transformed a disused office building into a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical lab with the support of a £1.3million development loan from Lloyds Bank. Neil Humphries, owner of Bron Yr Aur Properties, has refurbished the 30,000 square foot site in the centre of Cwmbran, which had been empty for almost 10 years, to create a new research lab for a global pharmaceutical company. The site has been designed, developed and delivered by the specialist Laboratory Refurbishment firm – Catalyst (part of The Imium Group) to meet the new tenant’s bespoke specifications. It includes technical laboratory and office…

One of the UK’s leading timber groups has made a high-level appointment to consolidate their position within the industry and drive the business forward to reach ambitious growth targets. Andrew Francis has joined Premier Forest Group as their new UK Sales Director to lead the experienced sales team. As part of this exciting new role, he will help grow both the scale and profitability of the business, across all of the group brands, with both new and existing customers and suppliers. With over 30 years of experience in the timber industry, Andrew brings a wealth of sales and management experience…

As a leading supplier of a range of sustainable equipment, including solar hybrid generators and lighting towers, the MHM Group has launched a new eco initiative, that offers lower emission solutions to the plant hire and construction sectors. The Group continues to increase its sustainable hire fleet, with more than 30% of its equipment currently being solar or hybrid-powered, as part of a comprehensive approach to a greener future. The business will be adding three new, low emission and innovative products to its portfolio this year, which will form part of the ‘MHM Eco’ plan – promoting equipment that emits…

A mum-of-two is living the dream after signing up to a pioneering scheme at a care organisation to train as a nurse. Clinical care practitioner Michell Bevan, 41, is among a quartet of staff at Pendine Park in Wrexham to sign up for the course with the Open University. The others who will be doing nursing degrees are Stephanie Lloyd, Kirsty Morris and Courteney Jones. It is the latest initiative in a long-term programme of investment in staff training by the award-winning Pendine organisation. Mitchell said: “It’s a dream come true for me. I’ve always wanted to progress into nursing…

A community-based football club that “punches above its weight” is aiming for more European glory next season. Established in 1880, Bala FC is one of the oldest clubs in Wales but its focus is firmly on the future. The Lakesiders have qualified for the Europa League in seven of the past nine seasons. But it will be more difficult next time because the number of Welsh Premier League clubs that can qualify is being reduced from four to three. Supporting the Maes Tegid outfit all the way in their quest for European competition will be the continent’s biggest trailer maker.…

Wales’ longest running public sector procurement framework, the £1bn South East and Mid Wales Collaborative Construction Framework (SEWSCAP), has announced funding support for leading national charity, the School Of Hard Knocks, as part of its social value strategy. In line with its commitment to meeting the goals and objectives of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, the award-winning framework, in partnership with its sister framework, the South East & Mid Wales Collaborative Civil Engineering and Highways Construction Framework (SEWH), has committed funding to the charity, ensuring Behaviour Specialists can be recruited to undertake valuable work with school children…

Apprentice Molly Tanner’s personal experience of being a dyslexic learner has inspired her to become a teaching assistant supporting children with additional learning needs at Gowerton School in Swansea. Molly, 23, who lives in the city, was not fully diagnosed as dyslexic until this summer but that has not diluted her passion to support children in the Special Teaching Facility at the school. She supports year nine pupils who have a range of additional learning needs. The diagnostic assessment for dyslexia was arranged through her apprenticeship provider, Gower College Swansea, as part of the support available to apprentices “I love…

Care homes in Wales are on a “war footing” because of desperate staff shortages caused by the skyrocketing Covid infection rate. According to Mario Kreft MBE, the chair of Care Forum Wales, the sector is facing its worst ever crisis with reports that 75 per cent of staff were off work in some homes, either because they had contracted Coronavirus or they were self-isolating. The situation is so bad that as a last resort homes were introducing “firebreaks” to temporarily restrict visiting as the highly infectious Omicron variant tore across Wales. Domiciliary care companies were also struggling badly and were…