Author: Rhys Gregory

To mark British Science Week, a programme to attract young people into engineering careers is being extended to primary schools, Education Minister Kirsty Williams has been announced. The Engineering Education Scheme Wales (EESW) currently undertakes activities to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects and careers to high school students. The scheme is being made available to children under 11 and at schools in East Wales. The activities for young people include developing skills in software design and digital manufacturing and meeting industry role models to encourage children to pursue science qualifications. The scheme also includes activities which promote…

The Minister for Health and Social Services Vaughan Gething has approved the national roll-out of video health consultations, as part of Welsh Government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak. The web-based service will allow people to speak to NHS professionals by video without having to visit a GP or healthcare centre. This will help those who are self-isolating due to coronavirus to have face-to-face care and advice from their GP from their own home. People will need a smartphone, tablet or computer with a webcam running Chrome or Safari browsers to use the service. The consultation leaves no digital footprint and all…

High energy costs are one of the typical financial issues in every business. For more developed countries, companies usually incorporate smart electronic devices, such as a smart thermostat or smart LED lights, to conserve energy. While these smart gadgets can reduce energy costs, they can be quite costly for some business owners. There are, however, cost-effective and almost no-cost measures in dealing with high business energy bills. Check them out here: Make Use of Natural Lights Why opt for artificial lights that can spike electricity prices when the light from the sky is entirely free and unlimited? The Institute of…

Colwyn Bay’s Welsh Mountain Zoo is showing its support for a Welsh Government campaign designed to challenge stereotypes and encourage employers to build a multigenerational workforce across Wales. By 2022, one in three people of working age in Wales will be age 50 and over. Despite this, 28% of people aged 50-64 years in the UK are not actually in work. The ‘People Don’t Have a Best Before Date’ campaign highlights the valuable contribution older workers bring to businesses across Wales as well as the wider economy, while also encouraging employers to recruit, retain and train their employees who are…

His new venture, Ollywood, employs mainly ex-Forces staff who design and create imaginative, eye-catching installations and furniture for clients around the UK. Such is the demand that Oli plans to take on five full time staff in the next three years, employing ex-Forces and creative people where possible, and working with local colleges to create apprenticeships. Ollywood launched a year ago with the help of a £1500 Business Support Grant funded by Tata Steel subsidiary UKSE and administered by Newport City Council. “The grant was very helpful and enabled us to buy IT equipment and tools. We really appreciate the…

A series of key projects to help shape the Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) as one of the most investable areas in the UK have been approved by the CCR Regional Cabinet. The projects, all submitted through the Investment and Intervention Framework, will see investments ranging from initial sums totalling £215k to progress next steps business cases, through to a £30m commitment of City Deal funding for a Housing Investment fund, and £1.5m to scale up the CCR graduate programme. The Framework, launched by the Economic Growth Partnership, focuses on the region’s three priorities, innovation, infrastructure and challenge, enabling maximum leverage…

Two Cardiff reservoirs, which are currently undergoing major restoration work, have secured a financial boost to support the ecological resilience of the site whilst reconnecting people with the well-loved area creating a future hub for health and wellbeing in the capital. Lisvane and Llanishen reservoirs, which are the responsibility of Welsh Water, have been successful in securing a £930,000 grant from the Welsh Government’s ‘Enabling Natural Resources and Well-being (ENRaW)’ Scheme.  The grant supports projects that improves the quality of the local environment and biodiversity, developing resilient ecological networks, whilst broadening access to sustainable green infrastructure linked to the wider…

With a sell-out crowd, Wales will be taking on Scotland on Saturday March 14 at the Principality Stadium. With the kick off taking place at 2.15pm, there will be a full city centre road closure from 10.45am until 5.15pm on grounds of public safety. The gates to the stadium will open at 11.15am and all supporters are advised to get into the stadium early, to avoid missing kick-off. Those attending the rugby match are strongly advised to leave large bags at home and pay attention to the prohibited items listed at  principalitystadium.wales  before they travel into the city. Road closures From early…

First Minister Mark Drakeford will today unveil the exciting concept for a National Forest running the length and breadth of Wales. Backed by £5m in this year’s Budget, the National Forest will create areas of new woodland and help to restore and maintain some of Wales’ unique and irreplaceable ancient woodlands. And a further £10m of Glastir Woodland creation and restoration funding will be available to increase tree planting across Wales. The National Forest will be a connected ecological network running throughout Wales, which will play an important role in protecting nature and addressing biodiversity loss. It will also help…

Economy, Transport and North Wales Minister Ken Skates has announced that global, award-winning design and technology consultancy and product developer Keytree Ltd is creating 38 new jobs at its site in Port Talbot with support from the Welsh Government. The Welsh Government is providing £500,000 which will see the company expand at its base in Port Talbot and create new high quality jobs, almost doubling its headcount. Headquartered in London, Keytree has projects spanning 100 countries with offices in Sydney, Madrid and Bangalore in addition to Port Talbot. Today’s announcement will see a major expansion of the Port Talbot office…