Author: Rhys Gregory

Mums-to-be whose antenatal classes have had to be cancelled because of the coronavirus are now taking advantage of free online advice from a Swansea University expert. Dr Alys Einion-Waller, Associate Professor of Midwifery and Women’s Health, says her first three-week course of classes has already proved very popular – 12 couples signed up for the first session but now that figure has risen to 33 pairs of expectant parents. The classes in Centred Birth hypnobirthing, a way of using deep relaxation and self-hypnosis in labour and birth, are normally delivered at the University’s Health and Wellbeing Academy. They teach techniques…

Sainsbury’s café and Greggs in Bridgend have donated all leftover food to local homelessness charity Emmaus South Wales before closing due to the current coronavirus outbreak. The two businesses offered their support to the charity, which helps people who have experienced homelessness, by donating perishable food before temporarily closing. Emmaus South Wales shut its five charity shops in Bridgend and the Vale of Glamorgan following the Government’s announcement on Monday 23rd March, which issued stricter measures and ordered all shops selling non-essential goods to close. The charity’s five shops, which sell second-hand furniture, household goods and clothing, generate the funding…

Businesses and universities across Wales are responding to a nationwide call for action to help supply the NHS and social care with vital equipment to support staff. Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates has urged more to companies to join the effort. Gin distillery In The Welsh Wind, from Ceredigion, has started making World Health Organisation-approved hand sanitiser from its Gogerddan Arms base. Margam-based Rototherm Group, meanwhile, is producing face shields which will be used by healthcare staff, sourced from Premier Plastic Services Ltd, in Bridgend, via Cardiff stockist Amari Plastics Ltd, which paid for the first…

COUNCILS in North Wales are helping companies in the region access vital business support during the Coronavirus pandemic. Supported by North Wales Economic Ambition Board, the six local authorities in Gwynedd, Wrexham, Anglesey, Flintshire, Denbighshire and Conwy are working hard to inform organisations and the self-employed about the financial packages and benefits available to them following the Covid-19 outbreak. The Welsh and UK Governments have announced an unprecedented set of measures to assist firms in the months ahead, including business rate relief, grants, access to finance and fiscal aid for employees and the self-employed. In addition, the Welsh Government’s Business Wales…

While many businesses are closed during the Coronavirus pandemic, apprentices across Wales are forging ahead with their qualifications with online support from their learning provider. Directors and staff at award winning, pan-Wales learning provider Cambrian Training are all working remotely from home during the pandemic but are staying connected to their learners via the City & Guilds’ Learning Assistant e-portfolio system. Training officers use the Google Hangouts communications software to speak face to face with learners even though they are often hundreds of miles apart. This enables them to provide support and review evidence for learners’ apprenticeship portfolios. Arwyn Watkins, OBE,…

The National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth could be used as a temporary hospital to support the Hywel Dda Health Board’s response to the COVID-19 emergency. Health board officials visited the library to discuss options which include storing equipment and medical records and possibly using parts of the building as a hospital. The library car park has already been released for use by health workers. Library staff are being encouraged to volunteer their services and the library building will be lit blue every Thursday evening to show support for the NHS. Whilst the library is closed to the public and…

The number of confirmed new Coronavirus cases have risen by 284 in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 4,073. There has also been 33 further deaths of people who had tested positive for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total number of deaths in Wales to 245. Dr Robin Howe, Incident Director for the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said: “284 new cases have tested positive for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 4,073, although the true number of cases is likely to be higher. “For operational…

A Welsh company which puts colour in plastics for some of the world’s biggest brands has switched its focus to helping manufacture ventilator and respirator parts for the NHS and coronavirus testing kits. Performance Masterbatches Ltd in Blaenau Gwent, which makes the colour for the Nescafe Gold Blend lids and also counts Nissan, Jaguar Land Rover and Honda among its customers, has invested in new processes to help address the coronavirus pandemic, with around 20% of its entire production line now dedicated to supporting the NHS. The Brynmawr-based company, which started out making products for food packaging but now produces…

The Covid-19 Wales Business Loan Scheme is fully subscribed after more than 1,500 applications were received in just over one week. The £100 million scheme was launched by the First Minister on Monday 30 March as part of the Welsh Government’s £500 million Economic Resilience Fund to support businesses in dealing with coronavirus outbreak. The first loans were approved within three days of the fund launch, with the first loans reaching applicants by the end of last week. The Development Bank, which manages the scheme, will be ensuring approved funds reach businesses as quickly as possible so support can get…

Businesses have received almost £150m in support grants in the first week of the business support scheme. First Minister Mark Drakeford has thanked local authorities for their help making the grants quickly available to small businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Almost 11,000 firms have received funding which will be vital in helping them deal with the impact of the virus. More businesses will receive emergency coronavirus grants through their local authorities, which are distributing the funding on behalf of the Welsh Government. Retail, leisure and hospitality businesses in Wales occupying properties with a rateable value of between £12,001 and…