Author: Rhys Gregory

As universities approach the end of term, TV Licensing is reminding cash-strapped students in Wales that they may be entitled to a refund worth over £50. Since 1 April 2017, TV Licensing has changed the way refunds are calculated meaning that over 111,355 students in Wales packing up and moving home for the summer could be entitled to a refund just in time to celebrate the end of their exams. Students can claim for any full months left on their licence; so if they bought their licence last October and moved out in May, they could receive a refund worth…

A public consultation on the future of adult thoracic surgery in south Wales has been launched this week. The Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee, on behalf of six affected health boards, is asking for views on a proposal to locate adult thoracic surgery for patients from south Wales at a single centre based at Morriston Hospital in Swansea. Thoracic surgery involves operations on all parts of the chest, including the chest wall, the contents of the chest, and the lungs, however it does not include heart surgery. The services are currently spread across two sites, the University Hospital of Wales…

A Cardiff-based construction firm has won a leading industry award for the third year in a row for a new development in the Welsh capital at the same time as revenue exceeds £14M for the first time. Atkin Trade Specialists, based in Cardiff docks, has received a Gold award at the annual Finishes and Interior Sector (FIS) Awards for the development of 85 private apartments on Schooner Way in the city. The awards ceremony was held at the Dorchester Hotel in London. The development, which occupies the site previously belonging to the Wharf pub, is the brainchild of primary developer…

As the UK prepares to leave the EU, the Welsh NHS Confederation’s Policy Forum has identified 10 key outcomes needed for health and social care in Wales following Brexit. Vanessa Young, Director of the Welsh NHS Confederation said: “Brexit brings uncertainty in a number of important areas across the health and social care sector in Wales. Our Policy Forum has considered the possibilities post-Brexit and produced 10 outcomes for health and social care we need to see from UK Government’s negotiations and beyond. “From a workforce perspective we need to continue to attract high calibre professionals and trainees to our…

Preliminary plans for new engineering works on the world’s first preserved railway in Mid Wales have been described as “a once in a generation opportunity”. Talyllyn Railway Company Board and Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society Council have both endorsed a working group report which recommends acquiring land adjacent to the railway on Tywyn Pendre Enterprise Park to build the new works. Both organisations have stressed that the plans are at an early stage and that many challenges must be overcome to deliver the project. The new facility would be the railway’s engineering base for all major locomotive and rolling stock work…

Conwy County Council will launch the Grade-II listed Bodlondeb building for weddings on Wednesday (July 11). Following the success of its inaugural wedding fair in May, organisers are welcoming partner organisations and the public to Conway Road from 2pm to 7pm, where they can witness firsthand the stunning ceremony room, picturesque gardens and marquee. Delyth Jones, Conwy’s Head of Law and Governance, says they have already received bookings from couples eager to tie the knot at the popular 140-year old landmark, home to the local authority. “Since announcing we were planning to conduct weddings at Bodlondeb the reaction has been…

Hollywood star Michael Sheen is supporting a special book published by ABMU Health Board in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the NHS. In his foreword, the award-winning Port Talbot actor hailed the NHS as “the best of who we are”. He praised the “glorious vision” of “universal donation during fitness for universal provision during illness” which grew of out the mining community from which NHS founder Aneurin Bevan came. In the foreword of Pulling Together – a snapshot of the first 70 years of the NHS and Bridgend, he also states his belief that “there’s life in it yet”.…

Leading figures from the Smart Energy industry will be descending on Sophia Gardens in Cardiff tomorrow (Wednesday 4 July) for the annual Smart Energy Wales conference and exhibition. Now in its fourth year, Smart Energy Wales, which is sponsored by Welsh Government, brings together experts and academics to showcase the latest thinking and discuss best practice in the emerging sector. Lesley Griffiths, Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs, will be giving the keynote political speech in the smart storage and infrastructure session, which is sponsored by Wales & West Utilities. With Ministerial appearances at each of the previous…

Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning, Eluned Morgan gave work-based learning providers across Wales a big pat on the back at their annual conference before challenging them to do even more to generate a highly skilled workforce. More than 180 delegates gathered at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport to hear the Minister and a series of speakers refer to the changing employment landscape in Wales that is creating new demands on training providers. Themed ‘Building a high skilled economy from strong foundations’, the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW) conference gazed into the crystal ball to see what the…

Episentr has today announced it will launch its ground-breaking reputation management software at the H&C EXPO later this month. The company will use the EXPO, being held on July 17 and 18 at the five star Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, to showcase its new product – designed to help hoteliers measure and manage their reviews and social media channels. Episentr is a Welsh product, developed in Wales by Welsh software engineers and will be launching at the first-ever UK-wide hospitality expo being held in Wales. The platform was inspired by statistics around the behaviour of potential guests and hoteliers when…