Author: Rhys Gregory

A new construction forum to help Wales build back better from the coronavirus pandemic will meet for the first time today. The forum, chaired by Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport Lee Waters and attended by Minister for Housing and Local Government Julie James, brings together leading figures from the public and private sectors across Wales’ construction industry. At today’s meeting, members of the forum will discuss a way forward for the industry as it recovers from the coronavirus pandemic. Many construction sites in Wales have remained operational during the pandemic with the industry following strict working practices to ensure…

The Welsh Government will suspend school categorisation for the 2020/21 academic year, as part of its measures to reduce pressure on schools during the Covid-19 pandemic. Every year, primary and secondary schools are measured against a range of factors and placed into one of four colour-coded categories. The system helps identify schools that need the most support and guidance, those doing well but could be doing better and those that are highly effective and can act as support to other schools. The updated categories are published every January on the My Local School website. A review of guidance on school improvement…

The First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford has ordered an urgent audit of statues, street and building names to address Wales’ connections with the slave trade. The announcement follows a month of action by the Black Lives Matter movement, which has shone a light on racial inequalities around the world. The audit, which will span the length and breadth of the country, will be spearheaded by Gaynor Legall, a powerful advocate for ethnic minority women across Wales. Cardiff-born Legall, will lead the task and finish group selected for their expert knowledge of the slave trade, British Empire and history of…

Schroder UK Real Estate Fund (‘SREF’) has signed a deal to bring Coffi Co’s ‘Gin & Bake’ concept to Mermaid Quay, a popular 150,000 sq ft mixed-use destination on Cardiff Bay’s waterfront. With lockdown restrictions in Wales beginning to be relaxed, work has already started on fitting out the 4,157 sq ft waterfront unit – previously occupied by Carluccio’s – which also features a 732 sq ft external seating area. Gin & Bake Mermaid Quay opened for takeaway afternoon tea picnic boxes and freshly baked cakes alongside takeaway gins and alcohol from the bar, on Saturday 4 July 2020.  All…

Swansea Council has confirmed that one of its flagship annual events, the Wales Airshow, will be back next year.  The biggest free event in Wales, which has one of the most spectacular backdrops of any UK Airshow and which attracts audiences from across the UK, will return on Saturday and Sunday July 3 and 4, 2021. Despite this year’s event not taking place due to the coronavirus pandemic, the council’s cultural services marketing and events teams staged a digital celebration last Saturday (note: July 4) on Facebook. The day featured question and answer sessions from the pilots including Red Arrow…

Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) has advanced a £2 million loan to Creo Medical to develop its Cool Plasma technology which could provide a valuable weapon in the fight against Covid-19. Chepstow-based medical company, Creo Medical has developed its Cool Plasma technology, which has been shown to be highly effective in killing bacteria, with a 99.99% kill rate on tough bacteria such as MRSA, E. coli and C. difficile. Initial testing has shown it to be effective in inactivating the Covid-19 virus. The company believes it could be very useful in decontaminating and sterilising medical equipment, such as PPE and ventilators,…

Barod, the Welsh substance misuse charity, is pleased to announce the return of the Mike Parry Art Award competition, which launched on 1 July 2020.  The competition, now in its second year, is in memory of popular Barod support worker Mike Parry, who passed away in January 2019.   This year’s competition theme is Life in Lockdown: Art in Isolation, and will capture what people’s experience has been of the coronavirus lockdown. There are three different categories to enter: young people (up to 18 years old), adults, and groups.  The winner in each category will be announced at an exhibition in…

BBI Solutions, part of the UK-Rapid Test Consortium (UK-RTC), has reached a ‘major milestone’ in the development of a COVID-19 lateral flow antibody test. The UK-RTC has announced that it has reached design freeze for the test, which has been designed for people to use in their own homes. The ‘major milestone’ means that the test meets the required performance characteristics and the production specifications of the assay, or laboratory procedure, have now been set. The next stage will see the scale-up of processes this month, in readiness for manufacture. Tests carried out prior to reaching the design freeze stage…

Parkmans, Estate and Lettings Agents, are delighted to announce the opening of two new offices in Risca and Newbridge.  Charlotte Burles Corbett, Parkmans Managing Director, said, “We have been working hard during lockdown to get our new offices ready to open once we had the go-ahead from the government. The recent announcement by the First Minister didn’t give us much notice but, nonetheless, we are pleased to now be able to welcome customers to our new offices in Risca and Newbridge as well as our current office in Blackwood.” The teams in the new Newbridge office,12 High Street, and the…

A big-hearted distribution company has come to the rescue of an historic cricket club that’s nurtured the talents of some of North Wales’ finest players. Wrexham-based  McCarthy Distribution donated more than 50 pallets to Brymbo Cricket Club so that a team of 30 volunteers can rebuild the club’s damaged perimeter fence. The club, which is part of the Brymbo Sports and Social Club complex and has been at the heart of the community for more than 100 years, is self-funded and relies on grants, donations and sponsorship to cover the cost of essential maintenance work and new equipment. Since October,…