Author: Rhys Gregory

A Wrexham-headquartered recruitment business is set to deliver a positive end to 2020, with the support of Lloyds Bank. gap personnel group, which provides recruitment services for large retailers, manufacturers and logistics firms, has secured a new £30m invoice finance facility from Lloyds Bank as the group continues to trade ahead of its revised forecasts for 2020. With many firms in its UK-wide client base requiring temporary support in the lead up to Christmas, the group expects to have upwards of 10,000 workers in roles every week by the end of the year. The new finance facility from Lloyds Bank…

November looks to be an exciting milestone for Techniquest as today it was revealed the centre will re-open this autumn. After four years of planning and development, the wait for the hugely anticipated ‘Science Capital’ project is nearly over, and a re-opening date of Saturday 14th November has been confirmed. Tickets are now available to pre-book. To radically transform the science and discovery centre and diversify its audience, the Science Capital project consists of a significant extension, expanding the floor space by 60% and introducing 52 brand-new exhibits. The project has been the biggest in nearly 34 years of Techniquest’s…

Archwood Group, which comprises Richard Burbidge, Atkinson & Kirby and Masons Timber, today announced a newly appointed senior team, including Josh Burbidge as Managing Director. Archwood Group, the business behind three leading UK manufacturers, Richard Burbidge, Atkinson & Kirby and Masons Timber has appointed a new senior team. The announcement comes as part of their strategic plan to enhance customer support, achieve long-term profitable growth for both the business and customers and accelerate their efforts on sustainability. From 1st January 2021, Josh Burbidge is to be promoted to Managing Director of the Archwood Group, the 4th generation to lead the family…

Pioneering technology has been unveiled at a Swansea city centre regeneration project, allowing visitors to peer into the future. Lookout, which launched today, 11 November, at the £135 million Copr Bay arena complex development off Oystermouth Road, Swansea, is a public engagement area including advanced technology that combines archive and historical images with digital innovation. At the heart of the free attraction are ‘digital binoculars’, each with a viewing screen. They give local residents and visitors the opportunity to view interactive visuals that combine current images with how the city will look in a few years as the city centre-wide…

Flawsome! Drinks have every reason to celebrate after securing a business deal with a multinational premium supermarket retailer in the Middle East. Cardiff based drinks producer, Flawsome!, which makes cold-pressed juices from imperfect fruit and vegetables, will see its products available to buy in the well known Spinneys stores in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This latest news is a great boost to the company at such a challenging and uncertain time for all food and drink producers. Next month, around 28 stores will initially stock Flawsome! lightly sparkling range which includes Apple & Rhubarb, Sweet and Sour Apple, and…

After a period of local lockdowns and a two-week firebreak – rehoming in RSPCA animal centres across Wales has faced a few challenges. Local lockdowns meant rehoming was temporarily only allowed to those within the centre’s county – reducing the numbers of adoptees coming forward – and the firebreak saw the closure of RSPCA Newport Animal Centre and RSPCA Bryn Y Maen Animal Centre (Upper Colwyn Bay) to the public, where only limited rehoming was available virtually. RSPCA Llys Nini Animal Centre in Swansea – which is run by the Llys Nini Branch – also closed its doors during the…

Economy Minister Ken Skates has announced that businesses in Wales will be able to claim up to £3,000 for each new apprentice they hire under the age of 25. The £3,000 incentive, aimed at helping Wales to recover from impact of Covid-19, will be available to businesses that are employing a young apprentice for at least 30 hours per week. Welsh businesses could also receive £1,500 for each new under 25 year old apprentice they employ for less than 30 hours a week. For workers aged 25 and over, businesses can access £2,000 for each new apprentice they hire on…

Following high demand for funding support across the arts and cultural sectors a further £10.7m will be made available to support organisations and individuals during the pandemic, taking the total funding package available through the Cultural Recovery Fund to £63.7m. This is in addition to an £18m portfolio package provided in April, which was delivered by the Welsh Government, Arts Council of Wales, Creative Wales and Sport Wales. The announcement comes as many organisations and individuals are already benefiting from the Cultural Recovery Fund. Benefiting from the Freelancer Fund, Roanna Lewis, actress, writer and director from  Rhondda Cynon Taf, said:…

The COVID-19 pandemic has detrimentally impacted the majority of Welsh businesses. Few have escaped unharmed, with organizations of all sizes affected, from small independent companies to well-known brands and large enterprises. But the positive response has also been astounding. And Welsh companies have shown remarkable levels of flexibility and innovative spirit. What were initially thought to be insurmountable challenges have, in many cases, turned out to be catalysts for change and diversification.  In this post, we’re going to look at five key ways that companies are adapting to the current crisis. While many of these shifts will only last for…

Education Minister Kirsty Williams has today (Tuesday, November 10) confirmed Wales’ approach for qualifications in 2021 and her decision that there will be no end of year exams for learners taking GCSEs, AS levels or A levels. The Minister outlined: that in place of exams, the Welsh Government intended to work with schools and colleges to take forward teacher-managed assessments, that this should include assessments that will be externally set and marked but delivered within a classroom environment under teacher supervision. her expectation this work will form the basis for centre-based outcomes which will be linked to an agreed national…