Author: Rhys Gregory

Star learners, employers, tutors and assessors from across Wales have been shortlisted for this year’s Apprenticeship Awards Cymru, the annual celebration of outstanding achievement in training and apprenticeships. [aoa id=”1″] Thirty-four finalists in a dozen categories are in the running for the prestigious awards which will be presented at a high-profile ceremony at the new International Convention Centre Wales in Newport on October 24. The awards showcase the successes of the best learners, employers, tutors and assessors in Wales who have excelled in contributing to the development of the Welsh Government’s traineeship and apprenticeship programmes. Jointly organised by the Welsh…

First introduced by the Met Office and Met Éireann (the meteorological service in the Republic of Ireland) in 2015, the Name our Storms campaign has helped raise awareness of the potential impacts of severe weather in Britain and Ireland before it hits. Now in its fifth year, the Met Office and Met Éireann are joined by the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), the Dutch national weather forecasting service. Earlier this summer the Met Office and Met Éireann received thousands of suggestions from the public after asking people to send in ideas for future storm names. Working with Met Éireann and…

A high school data manager from Brecknockshire has taken immediate ownership of the Usk & Railway Inn in Sennybridge with the support of six-figure funding from NatWest. [aoa id=”1″] Linda Renkes has purchased the the Usk & Railway Inn in the Brecon Beacons National Park using a £250,000 funding package from NatWest which she will run alongside her husband Andy Renkes. After taking ownership in June this year, the finance has enabled Linda and Andy to modernise the interior and exterior of the pub, including refreshing the décor and upgrading the outdoor space, while retaining the pub’s traditional atmosphere. [/aoa]…

Sheila Kinch, 65, from Caerau in Cardiff is urging other blind and partially sighted people to enjoy books from RNIB Cymru’s transcription service this National Read a Book day (Friday 6 September 2019). Sheila, who has been accessing the free service for six years, is passionate that losing your sight doesn’t have to mean losing access to a world of books. Sheila said: “I have always been a keen reader but when I was diagnosed with cataracts and retinal detachments I had to switch to audiobooks. I enjoy listening to books, but the selection is quite limited and often the…

Abergavenny Food Festival (21-22 September 2019) is offering volunteers free access to the festival in recognition of the valuable contribution that volunteers make to the community. Through a partnership with charity Tempo Time Credits, volunteers can exchange Time Credits, a time-based currency, for a festival wristband that is worth £15. Tempo Time Credits incentivises people to volunteer and encourages individuals to play an active role in their community or services. People earn Time Credits for time contributed to their community or service. These Time Credits can then be spent on accessing activity across their national network, such as local attractions, training…

Women are being encouraged to know the signs and symptoms of gynaecological cancers – those that develop in a woman’s reproductive tract. September is Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month and an opportunity to encourage women to become more aware of cancers of the cervix, vagina, vulva, ovaries, and womb.  Being aware of the symptoms can help women know when they should see their GP. Sharon Manning, Gynae/Oncology/Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist, said: “The earlier gynaecological cancers are found, the more likely it is that treatment will be successful. You are not wasting your doctor’s time by getting your symptoms checked.” Symptoms of…

A Golf Academy star at Rydal Penrhos has earned another national squad selection for a high-profile fixture. Reuben Bather, a Year 12 pupil at the school, will be part of the Wales U18 squad that will take on England at Newport Golf Club over a two-day period from September 21-22. The squad will get the chance to acclimatise to the course during an afternoon practice round a day prior to the fixture, with the competitive action to get underway with singles and foursomes that form day one of the event. This will be followed by a pivotal day two that…

As the growth of the Welsh financial sector continues, Counsel General and Brexit Minister, Jeremy Miles AM, has praised the successes of the Welsh Financial Services Graduate Programme as an example of why Wales must retain control of any replacement for EU funding. [aoa id=”1″] Speaking at the launch event for the fourth Programme, Mr Miles commended the innovative graduate scheme, which is designed to support the growth of indigenous financial services companies and attract further businesses to Wales, by ensuring the country develops and retains its high-calibre graduates. The Programme managed by the Welsh Contact Centre Forum attracts…

When it comes to gambling in the UK, Wales has been an important location for the inception and development of the industry. In fact, Britain’s first ever bricks and mortar casino was opened here back in 1961. The Casino Club in Port Talbot led to a whole host of new establishments and while Wales has now been overtaken by other locations around the UK, it can be proud of that historic ‘first’. But what about the future? With more punters heading online to place their bets and to take a spin of the roulette wheel within new online casino slots,…

A series of exclusive fan events and experiences give FRIENDS fans across the country the chance to celebrate the milestone anniversary of one of the most popular TV shows of all time. [aoa id=”1″] 25 years after Monica, Rachel, Phoebe, Chandler, Joey and Ross first appeared on TV screens across the world, fans can congregate at a range of nationwide celebration events for completely one-off experiences. With a number of events already sold out, even more unique experiences have been announced to bring the anniversary extravaganza to all corners of the UK, arriving in Cardiff on Thursday 19th September.  The…