Author: Rhys Gregory

Cardiff and Vale College has been crowned as the best college in the country for its focus on digital skills and its contribution to the local community. The awards celebrate the best of the best in FE and CAVC won in two categories – Outstanding Use of Technology in Teaching, Learning and Assessment and Contribution to the Local Community. While judges thought the standard of across the board for use of technology was extremely high, CAVC’s stood out as the outstanding entry. They noted that the College has a mission to empower learners to be the innovators of the future…

A new animated video has been developed by Swansea University to raise awareness of lymphoedema and help patients understand more about how their condition will be treated. It is estimated that more than 200,000 men, women and children are living with lymphoedema, also known as chronic oedema, in the UK. Lymphoedema affects around 2 in 10 people with breast cancer, and 5 in 10 people with vulval cancer. The lymphatic system is the body’s disposal system, carrying lymph around the body, fighting infection, and getting rid of waste products produced by cells. If the lymphatic system stops working, this can…

Two specialist dementia nursing homes have appointed their first family liaison officer, as a dedicated link person between residents and their families. And Laura Haynes says that she will work especially closely with families when their loved one first arrives at a Meddyg Care Group home in Porthmadog or Criccieth. Laura, 32, came into the care sector accidentally, when seeking work after leaving university, before discovering it was her vocation.  She worked her way up from home carer to office manager within the private domiciliary care sector, and said: “I was very close to my late grandfather and used to…

A new residential home for adults with needs associated with autism is set to create 30 jobs in Pontarddulais and the surrounding areas. Orbis Education and Care is due to open the service, called Cartref Mynydd, in the coming weeks. Set in 20 acres of countryside, Cartref Mynydd takes its name from its stunning mountainside location and is set to welcome five adults into its brand new self-contained apartments before the end of the year. Orbis Education and Care supports children, young people and adults with autism in homes and schools across Wales, and is actively seeking enthusiastic, caring and…

Hybrisan, the South Wales based advanced antimicrobial specialists, have installed a new Elmarco electrospinning production line to increase the production of PEE equipment, while also accelerating product development to expand its business offering. The equipment is the first of its kind in the UK and forms part of a recent investment to aid the fight against COVID 19, using venture capital secured earlier this year, to purchase the new ‘electrospinning’ production line.  Hybrisan can now scale up the manufacturing of facemask filters and progress the development of their leading-edge wound dressing technology.  Having recently developed an electrospinning recipe which allows…

A Swansea University honorary senior tutor and a master’s student have been honoured for their dedication to diabetes care at a major UK healthcare awards. Dr Rose Stewart, who lectures on the MSc Diabetes Practice course at the University’s Medical School, won the NHS Wales outstanding contribution to diabetes award at the Quality in Care (QiC) Diabetes Awards. She also picked up the prestigious Unsung Hero award at the ceremony, which was held virtually this year. The judges described Dr Stewart, who is principal psychologist at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health board, as one of the brightest stars in the field…

North Wales builder Brenig Construction have started work on a landmark eco-friendly council housing scheme. The Mochdre-based contractor are putting shovels in the ground on a 12-month contract for the first new council homes to be designed and built for Denbighshire in 30 years. They will build 18 two-bedroom and four four-bedroom semi-detached houses for social rent on land above Tan y Sgubor, Denbigh, for Denbighshire County Council. The low-carbon homes, which will be built and certified to the energy-efficient Passivhaus standard, are part of the Council’s target to provide 170 more council houses by 2022. Brenig Construction will erect…

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for heavy rain across Wales this week. Periods of heavy rain are expected to develop across Wales and northwest England during Thursday and Friday. Accumulations of 30-40 mm can be expected widely, whilst areas of higher ground exposed to strong southwesterly winds are likely to see 50-80 mm. The heaviest rainfall, however, is expected to be across the hills and mountains of northwest Wales where 100-130 mm of rainfall is possible by the end of Friday. What to expect There is a small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded, causing…

Pensions Minister Guy Opperman has announced a possible auto enrolment review next year to assess the need to increase pension contribution rates and increase the number of people who are eligible for the system. The Department for Work and Pensions announced in 2017 that changes to the current auto enrolment pension system were needed, but the government dismissed alterations until the mid-2020s. While Mr Opperman acknowledges that now is not the right time to make changes, his comments suggest an earlier than planned review of the hugely successful initiative to get people saving for their retirement. Partner and Pension Actuary…

Traditional Halloween activities, such as trick or treating, parties and other gatherings, all risk spreading Covid-19 further and are prohibited under the current Wales firebreak lockdown rules. Newport Council is urging residents to forego the traditional Halloween activities this year by celebrating safely from their own homes and not meeting anyone, either indoors or outside, that are not part of their household. It is unfortunate that so many events have been impacted by coronavirus this year and Halloween is no exception.  The fire-break restrictions are in place to help keep the virus under control and it is vitally important to…