Author: Rhys Gregory

Nominated by local mum Emma Rees, Emma Thomas has been honoured as Emma’s Diary Mums’ Midwife of the Year 2019 for the Wales region. The prestigious award is one of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Annual Midwifery Awards, recognising the incredible work done by exceptional midwives across the country. Midwives play such a critical role in so many mums’ lives and the Emma’s Diary Mums’ Midwife of the Year Award enables them to pay a heartfelt tribute to their own special midwife who truly surpassed what was expected of them. After nine years of infertility, seven rounds of IVF…

The importance of vocational qualifications to the Welsh economy was emphasised at the launch of this year’s VQ Awards in Wales at the Senedd in Cardiff. [aoa id=”1″] Speakers called for vocational qualifications to have parity of esteem with academic qualifications and for the Welsh Government to continue prioritising investment in the sector. Iestyn Davies, chief executive of ColegauCymru/CollegesWales, said Wales was one of the remaining parts of the world where there had been a reluctance to recognise the value of vocational qualifications. Academic qualifications had hogged the limelight when young people were considering a career path. However, he believed…

Far-reaching and significant changes to the Football Association of Wales’ (FAW) Rules have been ratified by the Members of the Association. The Rule changes, brought about by recommendations made by the FAW Council to reform its Governance structures, will modernise and streamline the way in which decisions are made on important matters across Welsh football. On Thursday, 29thof January, at the ‘Special General Meeting for the Consideration of the Rules of the FAW’ there was an overwhelming support by FAW Members in favour of the proposed FAW Rule changes. These historic changes relate to the FAW governance structure as well…

The first NHS Wales cancer patient to receive proton beam therapy in Wales has started treatment at the Rutherford Cancer Centre South Wales in Newport. The Newport centre is approved by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (WHSSC) to provide high energy proton beam therapy to adult patients referred from the NHS in south Wales. Professor Roger Taylor, Senior Clinical Advisor and Consultant Clinical Oncologist at the Rutherford Cancer Centre South Wales, said: “The availability of proton beam therapy at a local clinic is an important step forward in cancer care in the UK and we are pleased to be…

The team at Llechwedd Slate Caverns is rebranding their iconic multi-adventure visitor attraction – one of the pioneers of North Wales’s reinvention as the adventure capital of Europe – to Slate Mountain / Mynydd Llechi. The new brand follows a recent £1.65m investment into luxury glamping lodges and a new hotel at the site, making Slate Mountain the first adventure attraction in North Wales to combine adventure, heritage and accommodation all in one place. Managing director Michael Bewick said: “Our new name more accurately reflects the epic scale of our new offer. From the soaring tops of our 1400ft quarry…

One of the UK’s leading insurance brokers has expanded its Cardiff team with a key new appointment. Towergate Insurance Brokers has welcomed Louise Jones as a specialist development executive in Legal Indemnities, a niche area of the real estate property sector. A law graduate with over five years’ experience in the sector, Louise works alongside law firms, property developers and financial institutions from across the UK to structure bespoke indemnity policies and risk transfer solutions. Louise joins the team at an exciting time of growth, as Towergate continues to provide expert insurance advice to an array of clients across south…

Innovative, driven, and passionate individuals are being called on to sign up for an apprenticeship at one of Wales’s leading manufacturers, Sony UK Technology Centre. [aoa id=”1″] The Pencoed-based facility, which produces HD broadcast and 4K cameras for worldwide distribution, is searching for the latest round of talented applicants to join its Sony UK TEC Apprenticeship scheme. The scheme, which is now in its sixth consecutive year, officially launched on February 1stwith applicants encouraged to apply before the February 28thclosing date. The industry-leading initiative supports career-driven individuals to further their education and gain qualifications throughout the scheme. Their full studies…

South Wales Police is investigating a fatal road traffic collision which occurred on the A48 Eastern Avenue in Cardiff in the early hours of this morning (Monday 4th February). It is believed that only one vehicle, an Audi A6, was involved. The driver of the vehicle, a 39 year-old man from the Llanrumney area, was treated at the scene but later died in hospital. The family has been informed and are currently being supported by specially trained family liaison officers. The collision occurred at around 3.15am on the westbound on slip from the St Mellons roundabout, and police are appealing…

Following the sentencing of six people to more than 44 years in prison at Newport Crown Court at the end of January for conspiracy to supply heroine, a 52 year-old man from Sandwell in the Wet Midlands is the latest to be sent to prison as part of Operation Jackdaw. On Friday (1st February) Amrik Singh was sentenced to five years six months for Conspiracy to Supply Heroin and 14 days concurrent for Possession of Cannabis. Late last year police officers from Tarian, the Regional Organised Crime Unit, supported by South Wales and Gwent Police executed a series of warrants as…

Traveline Cymru customers across Wales are some of the happiest with satisfaction levels reaching an “exceptional” 97%, according to its latest report. [aoa id=”1″] The research, which was conducted in December by independent organisation Finger on the Pulse, reveals that customers found all services to be highly regarded and valued. Customers’ comments showed that the high levels of satisfaction were thanks to the easy to use, accessible and accurate service, with mobile and digital usage also soaring over the last 12 months. Its contact centre also received notable praise from its older demographic scoring an impressive 95%, showing that the…