Author: Rhys Gregory

HELPING transform South West Wales into an environment where local young people can stay to follow their dreams is among the reasons why a leading businessman is backing the £1.3 billion Swansea Bay City Deal. [aoa id=”1″] Ed Tomp, Chairman of the City Deal’s Economic Strategy Board, says the City Deal could be a catalyst for even further investment in future that will combine to help retain the Swansea Bay City Region’s young talent. Vice-President and General Manager of Valero UK in Pembrokeshire, Mr Tomp also thinks the City Deal can move the region’s economy to a more even…

Odgers Berndtson, the only blue-chip international search firm with a dedicated team based in Wales, has appointed Emma Walton to the position of Consultant. Emma joins the Cardiff-based Odgers team with over 20 years’ search and interim management experience delivering Executive, Non-Executive and senior management assignments across all functions. [aoa id=”1″]In her time with Finlay Gardener in Bristol, as Regional Managing Director, she was responsible for launching and establishing their regional division for Executive Search and building strong relationships with many clients based in the South West and Wales. She is proud to now return to her home country to…

FRESH from tackling the Three Welsh Peaks, staff from the Edenstone Group are planning a new challenge – creating an outdoor space for children with special educational needs. A group of 15 walkers from the Magor-based business scaled Pen Y Fan, Skirrid and then Sugar Loaf in aid of Birchgrove Comprehensive School, in the Vale of Swansea. Their efforts have so far raised around three quarters of their £5,000 target, to be used towards materials for the DIY SOS-style project at the school. The school was nominated for the fundraiser by Edenstone’s build director Mike Huddleston as his son Callum…

Technology developed in a Welsh university by a undergraduate student has the potential to help thousands of diabetics patients suffering diabetic foot ulcerations. [aoa id=”1″] David Barton, who lives in Swansea is co-founder and director of Kaydiar, was studying podiatry medicine at Cardiff Metropolitan University when he came up with his device, which has now won the backing of a multinational firm. It is hoped the device, which fits into a patient’s shoe, will aid healing for tens of thousands of people with diabetic foot ulcerations by offloading pressure. [/aoa] David, 24, says the product has “been his life”…

Rhian Whiting, specialist in children’s law at Cardiff-based law firm Robertsons is preparing to raise £5,000 for Cancer Research Wales by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in February 2021. One of the seven summits, Mount Kilimanjaro is the world’s tallest free-standing mountain and is the highest peak in Africa. After a trek of around 9 days, Rhian and her guided group will reach the summit at 19,341 ft above sea level having approached from the south trekking through savannah, cloud forest, moorland and alpine desert before reaching the top. One of the most daunting aspects of the challenge will be the risk…

Work has started on a multi-million pound project to revamp some of Swansea’s most high-profile leisure facilities. [aoa id=”1″] £5.1m is being invested by Swansea Council to bring new life and vitality to the LC Swansea and the city’s five community leisure centres. The partnership approach will see a further £600,000 invested by Freedom Leisure, the not-for-profit leisure trust that runs the facilities for the council. [/aoa] The overhaul and works programme, which will benefit tens of thousands of customers, is being managed by experienced project management business Clarkson Alliance. Energy efficiency measures are being installed by Leisure Energy, an…

A pensioner who ran a donkey sanctuary had a “wonderful surprise” when two special visitors trotted into the care home where she now lives. Peggy Morris, 87, was thrilled when donkeys Jenny and Winnie arrived at Bryn Seiont Newydd, Pendine Park’s centre of excellence for dementia care in Caernarfon. The four-legged duo were there as part of an intergenerational art and craft project to make postcards with pupils from Ysgol Bontnewydd. According to Bryn Seiont Newydd’s musician in residence, Nia Davies Williams, the residents always enjoy seeing and working with children and having donkeys along was an exciting bonus. She said:…

A booklet to provide support and advice for young people who have been admitted to hospital as a result of self-harm has been launched at Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales in Cardiff. Heads Above The Waves (HATW), a Cardiff based non-profit organisation, have developed the booklet which is designed to be part advice and inspiration for young people, and part practical workbook. The booklet features sections for young people to complete themselves to help aid them in their recovery journey. HATW co-founder Si Martin said “We’re really proud of this new resource. It’s something that’s come from real people…

Global architecture practice BDP is about to open its first office in Wales, to help build on its success with recent projects including the Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran and Canolfan S4C Yr Egin in Carmarthen, which recently won the RICS award for best commercial building in Wales. The new office, which launches on 1 July 2019, is located in Cardiff’s bustling creative quarter above Morgan Arcade, and follows BDP’s announcement last year of its commitment to invest in a long-term future in South Wales. [aoa id=”1″]Alongside University of Wales Trinity St David’s new building for S4C, and the Grange…

Flexible office space is set to more than double in Cardiff over the next five years, outstripping forecast growth for this sector in both Bristol and Birmingham, according to research from global property consultants JLL. [aoa id=”1″]The success of home-grown co-working companies such as Indy Cube, Tramshed Tech and the Creative Quarter that have set up alongside the established and highly successful Rombourne, Regus and new entrant Bizspace is likely to attract more flexible working operators to the city.[/aoa] Making up 2.5% (323,000 sq ft) of Cardiff’s total office stock in 2018, the proportion of flexible space is set to…