Author: Rhys Gregory

An extra £17m EU funds will be invested to help over 7,000 young people across South East Wales improve their employment prospects, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Mark Drakeford announced today (28 August). [aoa id=”1″] Inspire2Achieve, led by Blaenau Gwent and Newport Councils, will receive an extra £15.9m of EU funding to work with schools and colleges to provide support to young people aged 11-19 years who are at risk of falling out of education and training. Newport Council’s Inspire2Work will receive a further £1.46m of EU funding to provide one-to-one mentoring, help with basic and personal skills and digital…

A mumpreneur who set up a virtual assistance business to enhance her work-life balance has appointed six new recruits in less than a year. [aoa id=”1″] Claire Farren, founder of Farrens Executive Assistance, has more than tripled her head count since setting up the innovative business in 2016. The Bridgend-based company has enjoyed success thanks to its bespoke executive assistance service, which supports a range of businesses from self-employed to multi-million pound co-operations. Thanks to its unique offering, Farrens Executive Assistance has seen its client base increase by more than 60% in the last year. [/aoa]The fast growth…

The Vale of Montgomery Rural Cluster of Councils, which is exploring new ways to deliver better services to their communities, has appointed a development officer. [aoa id=”1″] Leon Shearer will be working with the cluster until March next year and is planning a launch event on October 4. One of his aims is to raise the profile of the cluster and what community councils working together can do for their communities. The cluster was established in 2015 as an equal partnership of Abermule with Llandyssil, Montgomery, Berriew, Kerry, Sarn and Dolfor, Forden, Leighton and Trelystan Councils, representing in the around…

Aluminium manufacturing and installation company AB Glass has been appointed by Kier Construction to carry out works at a new school development based in Cwmbran. [aoa id=”1″] The £30 million redevelopment of Croesyceiliog School will accommodate 1200 pupils aged 11 to 16 and is linked to the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools programme. Swansea-based AB Glass will manufacture and install a range of aluminum systems for the project, including Kawneer AA100 curtain walling, AA540 windows, and AA190 and AA720 doors. Vitral UK rooflights will also be used for the project. The company is due to start work on the new development this…

As school leavers prepare to fly the nest for this year’s university Freshers’ festivities, Traveline Cymru is touring Welsh universities to help keep students on the move. Next month, the public transport information service will make its way around universities in Wales to help new students get to grips with their surroundings in new towns and cities. The Traveline Cymru team will be making appearances at over 20 colleges and universities across Wales throughout September; including Bangor, Cardiff, Aberystwyth and Swansea. As new students adjust to life without their own transport, they will have access to a bespoke service known…

Aberystwyth has become the first university in the world to be awarded Plastic Free University status. [aoa id=”1″] The award has been made by marine conservation charity Surfers Against Sewage as part of its Plastic Free Communities campaign. The campaign focuses on reducing the use of plastic items that are used only once before being thrown away, such as plastic bottles, coffee cups and lids, bags, cutlery, straws and stirrers. Whilst there are still some single-use plastic items within the University, the scheme recognises the great work being done to reduce their use and the institution’s ongoing commitment. [/aoa] Rebecca…

A woman with more than 20 years of leadership experience within the work-based learning sector across the UK has been appointed the chief operating officer at one of Wales’ top training providers. [aoa id=”1″] Faith O’Brien steps up from a consultancy role to the new position at Welshpool-based Cambrian Training Company, which has regional offices in Llanelli, Holyhead, Colwyn Bay and Builth Wells. The multi-award winning company specialises in the delivery of work-based apprenticeships, Jobs Growth Wales and employability opportunities across a range of industries pan-Wales. Its core business is in the food and drink and catering and hospitality industries.…

Talyllyn Railway has launched an appeal to restore the only coach still operable from the last train on the original Corris Railway 70 years ago. [aoa id=”1″] Originally built for the Corris as their carriage No.8 in 1898 by the Metropolitan Carriage and Wagon Co, the coach was rescued in a derelict condition from a back garden in the 1950s and restored to its former glory. It entered service as Talyllyn Railway carriage No.17 in 1961 and now, nearly 60 years on, it requires some major attention. Very popular and often used for wedding trains, it’s also a royal carriage,…

When it comes to fulfilling your tax and National Insurance (NI) obligations, compliance is everything. [aoa id=”1″] HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has recently highlighted a new area of concern for UK taxpayers, urging those who haven’t already done so to declare any foreign income or profits on offshore assets. Taxpayers have until 30thSeptember 2018 to come forward. Failure to declare any offshore assets and incomes could mean higher tax penalties, one thing leading accountancy firm Bevan & Buckland is keen for its clients to avoid. The introduction of new legislation, namely the ‘Requirement to Correct’, will impact more than…

Specialist energy management firm Egnida has completed the acquisition of three partner companies to help meet future challenges and to improve its offering to customers. [aoa id=”1″] Cowbridge-based Egnida, which is Welsh for ‘good energy’, delivers energy solutions for private and public sector organisations, including procurement, energy efficiency, demand-side management and installing and operating renewable projects. Egnida has now acquired three companies it has worked closely with for a number of years; energy consultancy business Encraft, based in Leamington Spa, and Birmingham-based fleet management firms Logical Vehicle Management (LVM) and Car & Van Lease Supermarket. [/aoa] Andrew Padmore, CEO of…