Author: Rhys Gregory

The Swansea skyline has changed forever as massive steel skeletons of the city’s new indoor arena and allied buildings have been completed. Work on the frames of the £135m Swansea Central Phase One site began to rise in late April. Now, just four months later, the arena framework is up on the former Oystermouth Road car park along with the framework of a multi-storey car park on the opposite side of the road. The latter towers over the neighbouring Quadrant multi-storey. On the main road side of the multi-storey is another tall structure that will offer new homes and commercial…

The Coronavirus may have disrupted her A level exams, but the fight to defeat the virus has inspired an A* learner from Coleg y Cymoedd to pursue a career in medical research. Josie Wood’s passion for science existed long before the pandemic, as is evidenced by the news that today she has A*AAA in Biology, Chemistry, Maths and French. However, after witnessing the tireless efforts of researchers and scientists around the world working to defeat the virus, she now feels a career in virology or epidemiology may be calling. Having secured the grades needed to study Natural Sciences at Bath…

As the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in changes to the provision of NHS services, an online platform offering home tests was introduced throughout Wales – enabling service users to access STI testing at home.  The scheme, titled Test and Post and accessed via the Frisky Wales website, is a collaborative Welsh government funded project being delivered by Public Health Wales, the sexual health services of the health boards and Signum Health. The technology behind  the ordering platform was created by Signum Health, a Caerphilly-based MedTech company which has developed a digital health shop, where health care professionals can create their own…

More than 300 entries were received for this year’s virtual Llanfyllin Show on Saturday which was declared a “great success”. Due to a ban on mass gatherings during the Coronavirus pandemic, the popular annual event, which is widely known as the ‘friendly show’, was held online. Show secretary Sian Lewis declared: “Due to the unfortunate circumstances we find ourselves in, we didn’t want anyone to miss out on the hard work and talent that gets displayed in our show every year. “The virtual show was a great success and a good way of keeping the event in people’s minds this…

The South Wales Law Awards is delighted to announce Penguin as a sponsor for the 2021 awards. Cardiff based Penguin, is one of the UK’s most successful and innovative financial planning practices. Oliver Pughe – Financial Planner said. “We’re incredibly excited to be sponsoring such a prestigious award. At Penguin, we pride ourselves on giving life changing advice, much like the legal community. In addition, we’re specialists in providing financial advice to those in the legal sector and work with many solicitors helping them to create a personal financial plan. We can’t wait to meet the best the legal community has to offer,…

Single Use Surgical, part of Eakin Healthcare Group, have signed a contract to package and sterilise 1.92 million surgical isolation gowns – a move that will create 45 new jobs and protect frontline NHS staff against COVID-19. The project is well under way, with weekly deliveries into NHS England having already started this month. The Welsh surgical manufacturer, who usually design and manufacture single-use surgical equipment, are using their specialist knowledge and expertise to provide packaging and ethylene oxide (EO) sterilisation services. The protective equipment is manufactured by Survitec, a British manufacturer of personal survival equipment who contacted Single Use…

Countdown star, Rachel Riley, is searching for Wales’ lockdown legends as part of the 2020 National Lottery Awards, as time is running out to enter. This year the annual search for the UK’s most popular National Lottery funded projects will, for the first time, honour individuals who have made an extraordinary impact in their community using National Lottery funding, especially those who have adapted during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Winners in each category will receive a £3,000 cash prize for their organisation and a coveted National Lottery Awards trophy. Nominations for the National Lottery Awards close on 19 August. Rachel…

The victim of a fatal road traffic collision which happened at 2.45pm on the A48 near Cowbridge on Tuesday 11th August has been named as Robert John Evans, 72, from Whitchurch in Cardiff. Mr Evans’ family has issued the following tribute: “Robert was originally from Barry but resides in Whitchurch, Cardiff. Robert was a devoted Husband to Carole, Father to Simon and Rachel, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, Brother and Uncle to his loving family. “He was a kind and caring person, always willing to help anyone and could turn his hand to any task. He will be sorely missed by all…

Cardiff and Bridgend have been confirmed as the homes of new Welsh heat network projects, which will help to heat homes using excess heat produced at industrial sites. Lesley Griffiths, Welsh Government Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs, has approved funding of £8.6m for the Cardiff Heat Network, the first large-scale city heat network of its kind in Wales. The zero-interest loan will provide more than half of the funds needed for Cardiff City Council to develop phase one of the Cardiff City Heat Network, which which will use underground pipes to transport waste heat from the Viridor Energy…

Controversy over how this year’s A-Level grades will be awarded has caused confusion and upset among learners across the country. Scotland for example, has u-turned and changed their policy in the last 24 hours. The Welsh Government has now responded by introducing a new policy that A-Level learners should not receive a grade outcome that is lower than their corresponding AS-Level grade. This rule is being introduced after the initial release of results by WJEC to schools and colleges.  Therefore, learners receiving their A level grades today should look at the grade awarded to see if it is the same,…