Author: Rhys Gregory

Hot on the heels of Hollywood stars including Judi Dench shooting scenes for a major new movie in Llandeilo and other beauty spots close by, Carmarthenshire Council is making it easier than ever before to film in the county. The council has launched an improved filming opportunities section of its website to make the process of scouting and booking filming locations as hassle-free as possible for movie-makers and TV production companies. As well as dealing with initial enquiries, the council is also on hand to help with filming permits, logistics, community engagement, traffic management, parking, accommodation and hospitality. Dame Judi…

Hundreds of Carmarthenshire pupils will soon be learning about the £1.3 billion Swansea Bay City Deal. From September, the City Deal will feature as part of the enterprise and employability module of the Welsh Baccalaureate at schools across the county. Following a trial in Carmarthenshire, the scheme could also be rolled out to schools in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Pembrokeshire in future. A qualification for 14 to 19-year-olds in Wales, the Welsh Baccalaureate aims to help students develop knowledge and skills that universities and employers want them to have when they leave school. The Carmarthenshire trial is part of…

Former international rugby union player and coach, John Dawes OBE, has been honoured as Fellow of Aberystwyth University. An Aberystwyth alumnus (Chemistry, 1962), John Dawes won his first Wales cap in 1964 aged 23. He went on to win a further 21 caps for Wales over the subsequent decade – six as captain, including the Grand Slam winning side of 1971. John Dawes captained the 1971 British Lions tour of New Zealand, where they became the first and only team to date to win a series in New Zealand. He also coached the British Lions tour to New Zealand in…

Dementia patients who become “distressed and confused” with unfamiliar hospital surroundings are getting vital support thanks to Cardiff Bus. The transport operator has donated one of its stop signs and timetable displays to Llandough Hospital, in a bid to prevent elderly patients living with dementia from becoming unsettled and anxious during their stay. The donation comes after Ward 8 sister Teresa Coomer approached Cardiff Bus about the struggles faced by her patients on a daily basis. Sister Coomer explained that people with dementia can become stressed in hospital quite quickly as a result of being removed from their daily routine…

Aside from staff pay, firms are more likely to increase their investment in training, and introduce more flexible working practices, in order to retain staff, according to a survey by the South Wales Chamber of Commerce and recruitment company Indeed. The survey, of over 1,000 businesspeople across all sizes and sectors, shows that just under half (42%) of businesses would invest in training and developing their staff in order to increase staff retention, while 38% would look to introduce flexible working practices, from flexible hours and remote working to job-sharing. Skills shortages are at near record levels, and this survey…

Hundreds of Sony UK Technology Centre staff have swapped the factory for the orchestra for a “one of a kind” musical event at Swansea University. Over 600 staff from the Pencoed-based manufacturing facility came together at the university’s bay campus to make a musical masterpiece as part of their annual team building day. The Beatswork workshop, run by team building specialists Orangeworks, saw all members of Sony UK TEC’s manufacturing operation challenged to learn a different percussion-based instrument during the day. After an inspirational talk by guest speaker Georgina Jones of Turn Lights On, the Sony UK TEC team was…

Speedway is returning to the Welsh Capital this Saturday for the Adrian Flux British FIM Speedway Grand Prix. The racing competition involves riders going around a track on 500cc motorbikes, with no breaks reaching speeds up to 70 MPH. The bikes run on Methanol which is an environmentally friendly fuel. Over 45 000 people are expected to watch the spectacle. The gates will open at 3.30pm and the first race starts at 5.15pm. For the safety of those attending, there will be a small city centre road closure in place for this event. The following roads will be closed between…

Plans to redevelop and revitalise a council housing estate in the city have been unveiled. Residents at the Channel View estate in Grangetown have been given the first glimpse of the council’s plans to regenerate the area to provide a more attractive local community and help address the need for more affordable housing in the city. The plans include the development of around 360 new homes, creating a more pleasant public realm and improving connectivity to the bay and city centre for people living in the area. The proposal also includes a new sheltered housing scheme which could provide a…

Forget the neighbour’s dogs and cats – some of the world’s most dangerous wild animals are living at private addresses in Wales A survey conducted by the Born Free Foundation has revealed that 4,798 dangerous wild animals are being privately kept in Great Britain – 306 of which are living in Wales. Now the international wildlife charity is petitioning the UK Government to immediately review the law, and put a stop to some of the world’s most remarkable but often deadly creatures being in kept in unsuitable environments. Whilst an estimated 11 million people own a pet in the UK,…

SPECIALIST equipment that can help children understand the dangers of railways has been developed by a Welsh business. Working in partnership with CEMET (Centre of Excellence in Mobile and Emerging Technologies), which is based at the University of South Wales (USW), and following support and advice from the Welsh Government’s flagship business support programme, Business Wales, Motion Rail has produced a virtual reality system that can give users a safe way to learn about the dangers posed by railways. Motion Rail MD Emma Gilchrist initially developed the pioneering VR technology – which is endorsed by Network Rail – for training…