Author: Rhys Gregory

An award-winning mid-Wales manufacturer has secured a string of new export deals around the world in territories including New Zealand, Pakistan, and Mexico, with significant deals in India expected to complete in the coming months. Zip-Clip designs and manufactures high-specification wire suspension and bracing solutions for an ever-increasing range of applications and sectors, including electrical, mechanical, heating, ventilation, construction and seismic. The company, which was founded twenty years ago, has worked on flagship projects, including the 2012 Olympics, World Cup stadiums in Qatar, Amazon datacentres and London’s new US Embassy. The Welshpool based company exports to over forty countries around…

Welsh firms signalled a return to output growth during August, according to the NatWest Wales Growth Tracker. The headline Business Activity Index – a seasonally adjusted index that measures the month-on-month change in the combined output of the region’s manufacturing and service sectors – registered 51.5, up from 48.3 in July to record a renewed rise in output midway through the third quarter, thereby ending a two-month sequence of decline. The upturn in activity was linked by panellists to stronger demand conditions and a further increase in new orders. August data signalled a second successive monthly expansion in new orders…

Ms Robson steps into the role from 23 September, following the departure of previous CEO, Lindsay Cordery-Bruce, earlier this year. Interim Chief Executive, Sian Aldridge, will return to her previous role in The Wallich Executive Team as Director of Operations. Established in 1978, The Wallich worked with 8,306 people who experienced homelessness, risk of homelessness or financial hardship in 2023/24 across Wales. Ms Robson will oversee 132 homelessness and prevention services, across 21 of the 22 Welsh local authorities. Ms Robson will join The Wallich’s Executive Team with vast experience and passion for social justice. She has a history of…

The North East Wales Industrial Decarbonisation (NEWID) cluster has concluded its initial stakeholder engagement as part of a new decarbonisation programme to promote the development and deployment of decarbonisation projects across North East Wales. The project has been made possible by £700k in funding from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) under the Local Industrial Decarbonisation Plans (LIDP) competition which is delivered by Innovate UK. The LIDP programme provides support for industrial manufacturers in dispersed sites to develop plans to reduce their emissions and avoid carbon leakage. The project is focused on developing a Regional Industrial Decarbonisation…

Musicians in the Welsh National Opera (WNO) orchestra will be taking industrial action on Saturday 21 September, supported by the Musicians’ Union(MU). MU members will be taking Action Short of Strike by leafleting the audience on their way in to and wearing campaign t-shirts instead of their usual concert dress for the opening night performance of Rigoletto. The performance is directed by Adele Thomas, who will be taking office as Co-General Director and Co-CEO alongside Sarah Crabtree in January 2025. The musicians will be calling on management, Arts Council of Wales and Arts Council England to keep WNO as a…

North Wales Police have received reports of youths throwing items, which has subsequently resulted in vehicles being damaged and on one occasion, a baby in a pushchair was hit. PC Jordan Jones, of the Neighbourhood Policing Team said: “The recent behaviour in Caernarfon is having a serious impact on residents and is putting community members at risk. “Luckily, the baby did not sustain any injuries, but this could have been a different story. “We have so far identified 14 young people between the ages of 9-15 years old who we suspect are involved and officers will be visiting their homes…

A section of Gower coast path affected by coastal erosion is being diverted further inland to help maintain the popular walking route. Swansea Council has secured funding from the Welsh Government to help provide a new 450 metre section of coast path between Rotherslade and Limeslade. The latest planned improvements follow on from coastal erosion which has previously occurred near to the existing route and has prompted the Council’s Countryside Access Team to look at developing an alternative route which will help maintain the continuous route that stretches along the entire Gower coastline. Plans will include the introduction of a…

A unique remote classroom will cross the Irish Sea this month to give young people in Pembrokeshire an introduction to Aquaculture – the farming of aquatic animals and plants. The Aquaculture Remote Classroom (ARC) from Ireland will visit Pembrokeshire College on September 18th and 19th, and Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi on September 20th. The event at Pembrokeshire College on Wednesday 18th includes an open session and anyone interested in attending is asked to please contact in advance (see details below). The ARC visits schools across Ireland to introduce students to Aquaculture and demonstrates the importance of marine life. This will be the…

Works have begun to enhance the current hockey pitch in Ysgol Afon Wen, formerly known as Hawthorn High School, for school and community use. The Council has received 38% of funding towards for the project from the Pitch Sports Collaboration Group, provided by Welsh Government and administered by Sport Wales in collaboration with Hockey Wales, Football Association of Wales and Welsh Rugby Union. The re-surfacing project, with some work to upgrade and strengthen the fencing will include new dug outs and new hockey goals. It will be a priority pitch for hockey but will also be available to other sports…

Caerphilly County Borough Sports and Leisure Services were honoured to welcome Hanna Guise, the National Learn to Swim Manager from Swim Wales, to Caerphilly Leisure Centre this week. Hanna led a masterclass aimed at enhancing the delivery of primary school swimming lessons throughout the borough. The event was attended by over 20 primary school swimming teachers, showcasing Caerphilly County Borough Council’s commitment to delivering excellence in school swimming programmes. The masterclass provided invaluable insights and practical strategies, empowering teachers to further improve the quality of swimming instruction available to local pupils. Councillor Chris Morgan, Cabinet Member for Leisure Services, commented…