Author: Rhys Gregory

Cardiff-based online booking and reservation software provider BookingLive has triumphed amongst 15,000 competitors from 98 countries in a Global Hackathon to provide solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic. BookingLive won the Empowerment, Solidarity in Action category for their Coordinate-19 solution, and was the only British team in the Top10 solutions globally. The company is now in discussions on using Coordinate-19 with the EU Commission and governments in France, Estonia, Malta, and Greece, along with many other international organisations. The BookingLive solution provides centralised resource, staff and volunteer management and deployment in the face of the coronavirus pandemic – getting the right…

The police and the RSPB’s wildbird crime investigators are probing the shooting of three protected red kites, the bodies of which were discovered in the Tregynon area, near Newtown on Sunday evening. A villager was out walking with her family when she found two of the dead birds of prey. She said her examination of the birds suggested they had been shot. She took a photograph of the birds and had planned to return to the spot to collect the bodies on Monday, but they had disappeared overnight. The body of a third red kite was discovered by another walker…

Newport based engineering company Cintec International with offices around the world are in the final stages of negotiation with the authorities in Egypt to supply a number of its modular pop up units (part of its Waterwall product range) for use as hospital units in Cairo. Some 18 months ago, Cintec supplied a number of units to the UK Ministry of Defence when there was great concern relating to the potential of chemical attack to the UK. The units can be assembled at speed by pumping in air and water into the units which are made of reinforced PVC coated double…

Cardiff based tech company MarketMate launches with the aim of revolutionising the way you manage your social media strategy. At the end of last year, technology entrepreneur Toby White secured a six-figure investment from the Development Bank of Wales to launch the business. Created to save users time, money and resource when it comes to creating unique content by automating your workflow, drive reach and enhance social presence. MarketMate, already trusted by leading global brands, offers a simple three-step solution for agencies, retailers, influencers and companies from any industry and size looking to proactively optimise their social media strategy. Powered…

Architecture and engineering practice BDP, which has a studio in Cardiff, is helping to convert the Principality Stadium into the Dragon’s Heart Hospital (Ysbyty Calon y Ddraig) as part of the UK’s effort to tackle the coronavirus emergency. The hospital was officially opened this week (Monday 20th April) by Prince Charles via video link. Working under project managers Mott MacDonald, BDP has provided the design and engineering expertise and skills to convert the Principality Stadium into a temporary, up to 2,000-bed emergency hospital for COVID-19 patients in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. BDP has been collaborating with clinicians, consultants,…

 A £500 donation by Tata Steel subsidiary UKSE means the efforts of Wales young entrepreneurs will be recognised again this year. Seven Welsh schools are competing for the Young Enterprise Awards 2020, despite the huge challenges posed by coronavirus. But even before the killer virus reared its head, the annual competition was under threat from lack of funding. Now the financial gap has been plugged by UKSE and other supporters, and the young people can showcase their impressive spirit of enterprise again this year. Antony Bolter, Chair of the South Wales Board of Young Enterprise said: “The young people are…

Prospective students interested in studying at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) are having the opportunity to attend Open Days – from the comfort of their own homes. Because of the Coronavirus outbreak, the University has postponed its usual Open Days.  Not wanting prospective students to miss out on the chance to attend an event, UWTSD has organised a series of Open Days and Open Evenings that will allow attendees to learn more about the University and the courses it offers. All events are drop-in sessions and will be held online on Microsoft Teams.  All registered guests will…

Chefs across the UK have been praised for their “brilliant” response to an appeal by the Culinary Association of Wales (CAW) for surplus chef’s jackets which can be made into masks and other items for care workers to use on the front-line fight against Coronavirus. Arwyn Watkins, CAW president, launched the appeal on social media to co-ordinate chefs’ practical response to the pandemic. He says demand for the jackets is far outstripping supply. “Chefs jackets are the perfect material to be made into masks, scrubs bags, headbands and caps for front line staff in care homes and working in the…

Swansea University’s English Language Training Services is continuing to run its prestigious Cambridge CELTA programme despite the lockdown.  Nine new trainees (and their dogs and cats) have just started their course and will be studying online instead via a dedicated portal, with full support from ELTS’ experienced trainers. Course leaders say they are able to deliver every element of the course digitally including the embedded teaching practice which will now will be conducted online, with classes composed of asylum seekers, refugees and other non-native speakers largely based in the Swansea Bay region. The trainees learning how to teach English as a…

Sharon Bamford, who was a warm, caring and dedicated healthcare assistant on the haematology/oncology ward at Singleton Hospital, passed away last night after contracting COVID-19. What makes her death particularly poignant is that it follows the recent death of her much-loved husband, Malcolm, who also succumbed to COVID-19. Both were cared for at the intensive care unit in Morriston Hospital. Their son, Christian, was also in hospital with COVID-19 but thankfully has since been discharged. Sharon had worked in Singleton for many years, and since 2005 worked within the haematology/oncology ward as a much valued team member. Staff at Morriston…