Author: Rhys Gregory

The Learning Tree, based in Cardiff city centre, is rapidly growing its services to provide vital support for parents whose workday exceeds core school hours. [aoa id=”1″] The nursery which opened just over six months ago, provides dedicated childcare to more than 50 children and continues to demonstrate its commitment to providing a high-quality nursery environment and support for busy working parents. At the start of September, the nursery launched a bespoke school drop-off and pick-up service at four local schools: Glan Morfa Primary School, Tredegarville Primary School, Victoria Primary School, Penarth and St Joseph’s RC Primary School, Penarth. The…

Introducing apprenticeship programmes at award winning Powys spring water and soft drinks manufacturer Radnor Hills in 2017 has had a “trulytransformational effect” on employees and business growth. [aoa id=”1″] The company, which has a workforce of 181 at Heartsease, near Knighton, has seen 20 per cent business growth in the last two years, including a record year in 2018. As a reward for its successful investment in apprenticeships, Radnor Hills has been shortlisted for the Medium Employer of the Year Award at next month’s Apprenticeship Awards Cymru, the annual celebration of outstanding achievement in training and apprenticeships. Thirty-four finalists in a…

Swansea University and Gower College Swansea have teamed up to support students with autistic spectrum conditions as they prepare to make the transition from college to university. They are collaborating on a year-long research project to investigate potential challenges that these students experience when making the change from further education to higher education. Led by student support officer Dr Mohammed Qasim, learner support coordinator Ceri Low and autism spectrum condition practitioner and PhD student Heather Pickard-Hengstenberg, the study included in-depth interviews that sought to identify the challenges students experience when transitioning to university and the development of suitable support networks.…

Joe Peskett’s success on a Higher Apprenticeship (Level 4) in Data Analytics at the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has already seen him travel to Europe and America, with a trip to Africa planned for next year. Working at the Data Science Campus, part of the ONS’s Headquarters in Newport, which is home to 2,500 employees, Joe excelled on his two-year apprenticeship and has now stepped into a full-time role as a Data Scientist. Now he has been shortlisted for the new Tomorrow’s Talent Award at next month’s Apprenticeship Awards Cymru, the annual celebration of outstanding achievement in training and…

A housing association has unveiled a £4.3 million plan to transform a 1970s estate in Llanrwst following consultation with residents. [aoa id=”1″] Cartrefi Conwy is proposing to demolish a block of 30 maisonettes and flats at the Glanrafon housing estate and replace it with 14 zero carbon modular homes – creating jobs and work experience for unemployed tenants in the process. As part of the overall scheme, six nearby blocks of 30 apartments are being given a massive makeover to give them a brand new modern look. Work to improve the apartments began earlier this year and the organisation has…

The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) near Machynlleth is seeing huge increases in the number of tourists visiting to learn about sustainable living. Visitor numbers have seen risen by 35% compared to the previous year, with July numbers showing a significant 58% increase on 2018. John Challen, CAT’s Eco Centre head, said: “CAT’s core message of climate and environmental solutions is more important now than ever, so it’s great to see the visitor centre so busy. “There are lots of factors behind the increase – from the increasing attention being paid to the climate emergency, to more people choosing to…

It was trial by combat as 50 heavily-armoured knights wielded swords, axes and spears as they battled for supremacy at a spectacular new festival in Corwen. [aoa id=”1″] Gwyl Y Fflam – Festival of Flame – which celebrates the town’s links with Welsh hero Owain Glyndwr, has been praised by Battle Heritage for its triumphant hosting of the annual British Medieval Combat Championships, held in Wales for the first time ever. Gŵyl y Fflam took over Edeyrnion fields in Corwen for all things medieval, including the opportunity to take a video tour of Glyndwr’s home at Sycharth, near Llansilin, with…

Gareth Jones and Mandy Weston of Town Square Spaces Ltd have been named Startup Entrepreneurs of the year at the Great British Entrepreneur Regional Awards 2019. Now in its seventh year, the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards celebrates the hard work and inspiring stories of entrepreneurs from across the UK. The awards ceremony held on Wednesday (18 September) in Cardiff’s Glee Club, brought together a range of businesses and professionals to recognise the outstanding achievers from across Wales. Town Square Spaces Ltd is an enterprise that builds communities of startups and entrepreneurs across the country through a national network of…

Inspired by her late grandfather and passionate about making history accessible to all, Esta is Rhondda Cynon Taff’s first Heritage Outreach Apprentice, supporting and creating learning and education opportunities as part of the authority’s heritage service. Now undertaking an Apprenticeship in Cultural Heritage delivered by training provider Cardiff and Vale College, she has been shortlisted for the Tomorrow’s Talent Award at next month’s Apprenticeship Awards Cymru, the annual celebration of outstanding achievement in training and apprenticeships. The new award seeks to reward a current apprentice who has ‘demonstrated significant personal progress’ and has made ‘a tangible and positive impact on…

Swansea Council is set to save one of the city centre’s architectural treasures. [aoa id=”1″] The historic and much-loved Palace Theatre building, which has been in private ownership for some time, has been left unused for more than a decade and has fallen into dilapidation. This week (Thu, Sept 19) the council’s cabinet approved a plan to breathe new life into the building while protecting its famous facade for generations to come.  Council leader Rob Stewart said: “After many months of behind the scenes work and negotiations our plan is to purchase the building and regenerate it into much-needed high-quality…