Author: Rhys Gregory

 Cardiff and Vale College and Persimmon Homes have joined forces to set up a new scheme, called the Training Academy, to address skills shortages in the growing South Wales construction industry. Working in partnership with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), the College and Persimmon are launching the new Training Academy initiative. With the upcoming City Deal a further 40,000 new homes will be built in the Capital Region alone, and Persimmon wanted to pre-empt any skill shortages by making sure a workforce is already in place. The Persimmon Homes PLC Training Academy will see the one of the largest…

A family-run farm in Powys has used a £300,000 finance package from HSBC to build two new luxury holiday homes. Fourth-generation beef and sheep farmers Gareth and Julie Rees, who own Lower Pentre Farm near Llandrindod Wells, have used the HSBC funding to convert two derelict barns into self-catered holiday lets. A full-time job has also been created to help maintain the new properties. [aoa id=”1″][/aoa] The three and four-bedroom holiday homes are situated on the couple’s 350-acre farm, which boasts spectacular countryside views. Both properties feature an outdoor decking area with a hot tub, as well as spacious kitchens…

With cycling fever sweeping over Cardiff as residents embrace their brand-new bike share scheme, nextbike are now on the hunt for true fans to be become the face of the service. nextbike, the world’s most extensive bike-share operator, is calling for all fanatics of the scheme to get in contact if they are interested in becoming an ambassador of the brand. [aoa id=”1″][/aoa] Ambassador perks include unlimited free cycling on all the nextbike schemes across the world as well as the opportunity to take part in Cardiff community events. Julian Scriven, UK MD of nextbike, expressed his passion for putting…

Following a meeting held today, (Thursday 9 August 2018) at the National Eisteddfod in Cardiff, the Welsh Government and S4C have announced an agreement on the principles of working together to support the Welsh language, with the aim of increasing the number of Welsh speakers. The Welsh Government’s strategic aim for the Welsh language is to increase the number of Welsh speakers to one million by the year 2050 and to increase the overall use of the language. As the only Welsh language television broadcaster and the body responsible for commissioning the most hours of content through the medium of…

A 25-year-old from Swansea is celebrating after scooping a life-changing £100,000, when a last-minute change of plan prompted him to buy a winning National Lottery Scratchcard. [aoa id=”1″] David Godfrey (25) had planned to go to bingo last Wednesday, 1 August, but when a couple of people cancelled, David and a friend decided to go for a walk on Swansea seafront instead. On a whim, David, an Operations Manager at Argos in Swansea, treated himself to a £100,000 Magenta scratchcard. After leaving the shop, David and his friend sat on a bench overlooking Swansea Marina while he played his National…

Cancer Research Wales’ Brecon and Sennybridge committee has raised a whopping £185,000 for Wales’ leading cancer research charity since 2008. This staggering amount has been raised thanks to the hard work and determination of the women within the group and all the funds have gone towards supporting Cardiff, Swansea and Bangor universities as they contribute to Cancer Research Wales’ vital research, early diagnosis and prevention. Eira Jones, Chairman of the Brecon and Sennybridge branch, said: “We are extremely proud of all our supporters, who have shown an incredible determination and dedication to Cancer Research Wales over the last ten years.…

AIRBUS, the global leader in aerospace and defence, has announced that it will be competing in the Eurobond Corporate Challenge at the Nation Radio Cardiff 10K this September. Employees from the Defence and Space Division of Airbus which employs over 400 people at its site in Newport, will be taking part in the Corporate Challenge. [aoa id=”1″] On the journey to participating in the 10K, Karen Thomas, Head of Site, Airbus Newport, said: “We are very pleased to be able to support Kidney Wales by taking part in the Cardiff 10K Corporate Challenge. “The charity does great work supporting patients…

BALANCED precariously on a wooden beam against a vertical rock wall, more than 30 metres above a darkening slate abyss in an abandoned mine. You learn a lot about yourself at moments like that. Hundreds of metres below the surface in the historic Cwmorthin Quarry, groups of intrepid explorers are taking on the already infamous new attraction from Go Below Underground Adventures in Snowdonia. Mine to Mountain is a psychological and physical assault on the senses, a thrilling, exhausting and quite incredible endurance challenge designed by Miles and Jen Moulding. ‘Attraction’ is perhaps the wrong word. This is not a…

Thousands are expected to line the streets of Cardiff on Thursday to welcome home Wales’ cycling superstar and Tour De France winner Geraint Thomas. The Cardiff-born cyclist will be given a hero’s welcome at an event staged along St Mary Street and outside Cardiff Castle from 5pm until 5.30pm on August 9th. Gethin Jones will compère today’s homecoming event, and Gethin is inviting you to share your burning questions that you’d like him to ask Geraint. Just tweet your questions with #AskG or #HoligG (Cymraeg). [aoa id=”1″] The Tour de France winner and Olympic Gold medallist will lead a peloton of…

A high-tech new film showcases a breathtaking £100m city centre regeneration plan. The movie-style visualisation of Swansea Central Phase One takes a bird’s eye view of the vast development. It is being enjoyed across the internet as social media users see final plans for the 3,500-capacity digital indoor arena, coastal park, digital plaza, landmark pedestrian bridge, new homes and premises for retail, food and drink. Council leader Rob Stewart said: “This will be a dramatic transformation over the next two years and we wanted an eye catching film to highlight it. “Swansea-based 3D architectural visualisation firm iCreate produced the fly-through…