Author: Rhys Gregory

THE £21million redevelopment of Coleg Cambria Yale will transform education in Wrexham. The Grove Park Road site is due to be finished in July and open this September in time for the 2020/21 academic year. Improved facilities include a new-look kitchen and restaurant, a sports complex, cutting-edge study spaces, IT suites and a 200-seat conference hall. Bodelwyddan-based Wynne Construction is ahead of schedule and much of the 96,000 sq ft building has been completed already, including the concrete flooring. Vertical insulation cladding is in the process of being covered with rain-screen cladding to finish and water-proof external walls, all classroom…

Six rising stars of Cardiff’s music scene have been picked to battle it out at the Big Gig final, in front of a panel of influential industry judges. On Saturday 15th February Clwb Ifor Bach on Womanby Street will host a night of music showcasing the diverse range of talent in the city, ranging from high-energy punk, to R&B and experimental pop. With the winner getting a coveted spot on the bill at Sŵn Festival 2020 and recording time at Music Box Studios with legendary producer Charlie Francis, and the runner up taking home a £100 voucher for music shop…

A student, inspired to pursue a career in healthcare following the death of his father and grandad to brain tumours, is starring in a campaign to help find a cure for the disease. Swansea undergraduate Christopher Grey, 19, is taking centre stage and sharing his story during Brain Tumour Awareness Month. Christopher was just 11 years old when his dad Jeffrey Grey, of Swansea, was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Despite enduring chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Jeffrey died just eight months later, aged 54. Tragically, Christopher’s granddad, Wyndham Grey, also died of a brain tumour ten years ago. Christopher, from Swansea,…

This week over twenty-two thousand Welsh children will be singing, rhyming and smiling as part of The Big Welsh Rhyme Time, BookTrust’s (the UK’s largest reading charity) Wales-wide celebration of sharing rhymes and songs, together in the early years with a little help from Welsh Rugby icon James Hook. Each year The Big Welsh Rhyme Time encourages fun and enjoyable rhyme sharing activity for children in Wales aged 0-5, in Welsh and English, because rhymes and songs help children develop speaking, listening, communication and literacy skills, improve their attention and confidence and – crucially – have fun! James Hook says,…

Transport for Wales’ Customer Delivery Director, Bethan Jelfs and Chris Pearce, Head of Operations, Network Rail Wales and Borders said: “As a result of flooding caused by Storm Ciara, Transport for Wales and Network Rail are strongly advising all customers to check their journey arrangements prior to travel on Monday (10 February) and allow plenty of time to their journey. “Following very stormy conditions, high tides and strong winds on Sunday there has been some flooding on the network which means that certain lines will remain closed on Monday. “The safety of our customers and colleagues is our absolute priority…

ActiveQuote has been named the winner of the Customer Excellence award at the Legal & General Business Quality Awards 2020. The leading comparison website and broker took the title at a special ceremony held in Central London last week (February 6th). Legal & General’s annual awards celebrate exceptional customer care and retention in the protection insurance sector. This is the second consecutive win for ActiveQuote who scooped the same award last year, it also received special recognition in the Data Precision Award. Legal & General analyses customer service statistics and quality metrics against other companies in the protection insurance market…

A Tonyrefail-based plastics engineering company has praised apprenticeships for transforming its business after creating its own “Apprenticeship School”. Having struggled to find staff with the right skills for the business, Ensinger decided to recruit apprentices to cut recruitment costs and address a growing skills gap in the engineering industry. Following the company’s previous success with apprenticeships, in 2017 the company opened its own Apprenticeship School to help build a workforce that has the specific skills the business needs to drive growth. Since opening its Apprenticeship School, Ensinger has been able to train 8 apprentices, equipping them with the essential technical…

Cardiff Metropolitan University staff, students and alumni have brought two British National Gymnastics awards back to Wales, as part of Valleys Gymnastics Academy. The Academy was a big winner on the night, taking home two awards – National Club Award winners (over 250 members), as well as being given the National Award for Equality and Inclusion for working consistently in the community by providing additional opportunities for underrepresented groups. Cardiff Met continues to produce and support sport graduates who are shaping and leading community sport in Wales with many volunteering their expertise to clubs like Valleys Gymnastics Academy. Academy Director…

Detectives in Swansea are appealing for information following a robbery at a Nisa store. Officers were called to the shop on Ravenhill Road at approximately 9pm on Friday night (February 7), after a man reportedly threatened staff, forced the till open and stole the cash from within. The suspect – who is described as around 5ft 8in tall, heavily built, and wearing a balaclava, black hooded coat, grey jogging bottoms and white trainers – made off on a bicycle in the direction of Heol Gruffydd. Officers would like to hear from anyone who saw anyone who acting suspiciously prior to,…

The Welsh broadcaster, S4C has invested in apprenticeships as part of its commitment to training and developing skills locally.   Since relocating its headquarters to Canolfan S4C Yr Egin in Carmarthen, the company has hired three more apprentices. S4C Chief Executive Owen Evans said apprentices will allow the company to plug the skills gap within the creative and media industry, not only locally, but in Wales as a whole. He said: “We wanted to find a way to bring new talent, new ideas and relevant skills into the business. Recruiting apprentices was the obvious choice, because we wanted to target…