Author: Rhys Gregory

CIPD Wales, the professional body for HR and people development, has recognised those at the top of Wales’ HR industry at its 2019 awards. The CIPD Wales Awards, which are now in their third year, recognise outstanding individuals and teams as the best in HR, learning, and people management practice in businesses across Wales. This year, Cardiff’s City Hall hosted the awards, on an evening that saw four outstanding individuals and 11 companies claim the industry’s most coveted accolades. Thousands of people are employed in the people profession across Wales, with HR and leadership development spanning every industry. The CIPD…

One of the UK’s leading independent insurance brokers, Towergate Insurance Brokers, has acquired the business of Clydach-based broker Tony Nakonecznyj Insurance Brokers, in a bid to boost its offering in the Swansea area. Tony Nakonecznyj is an independent broker established in 1984, specialising in chapels, leisure parks and commercial business, as well as providing services to local clients within the Clydach area. The business purchase will also see both of Tony Nakonecznyj’s long-serving employees Gill Langdon and Joanne Phillips transfer to Towergate Insurance Brokers in Swansea. Both have worked for the business for over 29 years and Tony will himself,…

A six-figure investment from the Development Bank of Wales will enable a waffle company to expand its current production to meet the demands of a national retailer. Tregroes Waffles, founded in Llandysul by Kees Huysmans, has been baking delicious waffles for Wales and beyond for over 30 years. Kees, originally from Holland, moved to Wales to become a farmer. He learnt Welsh and threw himself into community life in Tregroes and baked his waffles to sell at markets. The waffles were a hit and more than 30 years later, Kees is running his successful company and demand for his products…

Thousands of people watched this year’s Swansea city centre Christmas parade. They saw hundreds of local people take part in the parade as the festive season was ushered in. The event formed part of the 50th anniversary city status celebrations. There were marching bands, colourful floats, festive film characters, Christmas inflatables, Santa in his sleigh and some special effects. There were young performers from Swansea drama and dance groups. Local choirs and vocalists entertained city centre visitors at performance points as spectators awaited the arrival of the parade. The parade began at the foot of Wind Street and wound through…

International passenger transport company, Keolis, will host over 90 directors and senior managers from around the world in Cardiff this week. The delegates are experts drawn from the company’s many divisions responsible for train, metro and tram operations. The theme for the seminar is ‘Rail Mass Transit’. Delegates from across the Keolis network, including as far afield as Australia, Canada, China, India, North America, Africa and Europe, will gather for the event in Cardiff to share best practice, examples of transformational rail, metro and tram projects and the latest in digitalisation initiatives to improve railway operations. Attendees will also visit…

A University of South Wales (USW) Computer Forensics student has won a national award for her work looking at the security of data in vehicles. Angela Mison, was named the Cyber Student of the Year in Automotive by Techworks, at their annual awards and gala dinner in London. The award recognises the work that Angela did whilst completing her MSc in Computer Forensics at USW. This includes looking at the security of information transmitted from vehicles into the cloud, as well as cloud-based evidence for use in the criminal justice system. Angela, who lives in Ferndale, is due to graduate…

Holyhead-based charity, Gwelfor Dementia Friends has received £4,000 to help support people living with dementia thanks to Tesco’s Bags of Help scheme. Dementia Friends is committed to raising awareness and understanding of dementia to local businesses, schools, community groups and public services. The group are using the funding secured from Tesco to create a new Dementia Friendly room and cover the cost of two intergenerational projects in the community. The local nursery has been working closely with two care homes in the area having being inspired by the ‘Toddlers Tackling Dementia’ programme. As part of the intergenerational initiative eight children…

Cardiff based video production company, Rockadove, will be working with Welsh charity Cerebra, who support families across the UK with children with brain conditions to create a video campaign. The charity is the winner of the inaugural Third Sector Prize, which is a partnership between Rockadove and WCVA.  The Carmarthen headquartered charity’s mission is to listen to families, including those children with brain conditions, which inspires their research and innovation. Rockadove received more than fifty entries for the Third Sector Prize, with a judging panel which included WCVA choosing a top five shortlist, from which Cerebra were named as the…

A consultation with the doctor will soon be just a click of a mouse away for some Swansea Valley patients as their GP surgery goes online. After listening to calls from its patients for greater access, the Cwmtawe Medical Group – which is made up of Clydach Primary Care Centre, New Cross Surgery and Sway Road Surgery – is introducing digital consultations where patients can contact their doctor via their computer, tablet or smartphone. Using a platform called askmyGP, patients can log on to the new Cwmtawe Medical Group website. They will be asked to enter some basic details which…

Anglesey Circuit will once again play host to the Glyn Memorial Trophy Stages rally this weekend. Organised by the Caernarvonshire and Anglesey Motor Club, the rally will conclude several championships including the Welsh Tarmacadam Rally Championship, Association of North Western Car Clubs Stage Rally Championship, Junior 1000 Rally Championship, Junior 1000 Ecosse Challenge and Senior F1000 Championship. Action will get underway at 11:30 on Saturday with eight stages planned which will see competitors running in the dark for at least the final three stages. The Glyn Memorial is unique in being one of the only single venue stage rallies in…