Author: Rhys Gregory

The newly-replaced Tynybryn Footbridge in Tonyrefail will reopen to members of the public on Friday (January 26) following good progress with the scheme – to re-establish a popular local link within the community. The footbridge provides a path across the river, supporting a walking and cycling route between Tynybryn Road and the A4119 underpass. The old bridge was demolished last year, and replaced with an active travel-compliant alternative in November 2023 – which also has an improved alignment. Associated footway and street lighting improvements are also being made. The bridge replacement has formed part of a wider scheme at this…

he Bryn Meadows Caerphilly 10K is set to return on Sunday 12th May 2024 as well as the Bryn Meadows Caerphilly 2K fun run. With May fast approaching, entries are now open to register your place for 2024. Whether you are looking to enter your first race, an experienced runner or just love running, join us and sign up today. Set in the shadows of the spectacular Caerphilly Castle, the Bryn Meadows Caerphilly 10K will both start and finish on Crescent Road. The course will lead runners in and around the town centre, passing iconic landmarks on a relatively flat…

Completing a four-year higher apprenticeship journey whilst managing a full-time engineering role with a global organisation has ignited a real passion for project management for award finalist Amy Evans. The Bridgend 42-year-old is now a qualified project engineer with Zimmer Biomet, a global medical technology leader, and has gained recognition for identifying a manufacturing improvement which will save £180,000 annually and reduce the use of solvent-based substances. Amy completed her Higher Apprenticeship in Advanced Manufacturing and Operations BEng with the University Wales Trinity Saint David earlier this year. She credits her work-based learning for having the confidence to take on…

In the wake of the Post Office Horizon scandal highlighting the unreliability of computer evidence, a new booklet has just been published warning of potentially damaging IT issues in healthcare. Harold Thimbleby, professor emeritus of computer science at Swansea University, and his wife Prue Thimbleby, have just published Patient Safety — stories for a digital world, a booklet based on Professor Thimbleby’s award-winning book Fix IT (Oxford University Press). Praising the book at the time, the judges at the British Medical Book Awards said it should be read by all staff in healthcare. “However, healthcare staff are busy so we…

Throughout January, a new exhibition has been displayed at the Shire Hall to celebrate its 300-year history. This exhibition is the first of many new displays showcased at the new Shire Hall Museum. Alongside the exhibition, the Shire Hall team will engage with our local communities and speak to visitors to understand what topics and themes they want to see in the museum. All feedback will be used to create the Interpretation Plan that will shape the design and visitor experience of the museum. In addition to the exhibition, visitors can view the recent collection reviews carried out across MonLife’s…

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has raised £ 17,509 for the Wales Air Ambulance throughout its annual farmhouse breakfast week in January (15 -21 January 2024). Over 35 events were held across Wales with members and politicians alike enjoying the delicious, nutritious and sustainable breakfast produce on offer, whilst catching up on farming matters with FUW staff and officials. FUW President Ian Rickman said: “We have enjoyed another successful breakfast week and I thank all the staff, members, volunteers and our politicians across Wales for their incredible support. Together we have raised an incredible amount of money for this…

Multi-million pound plans to regenerate key parts of the Lower Swansea Valley are set to take some big steps forward. Swansea Council is working on a series of schemes in the River Tawe corridor with a view to submitting planning applications soon. They’re on track due in part to the council already securing £20m from the UK Government’s Levelling Up scheme last year. The Lower Swansea Valley project, with a close focus on the site of the former Hafod Morfa Copperworks, will result in more wealth and greater local connectivity. It’ll help tell the story of Swansea’s rich industrial legacy…

Former Wales Women’s Football Manager, Jayne Ludlow MBE, has joined University of South Wales (USW) as Head of Sport. Jayne won the first of 61 Wales caps, aged 17, in 1996 and was an integral member of the Arsenal side that won a domestic triple of Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup in 2001. In 2007, Jayne captained Arsenal as they became the first British team to win the UEFA Champions League which completed an incredible quadruple. Following her retirement from playing, Jayne pursued a career in coaching, working first within strength and conditioning before gaining her football coaching…

Ammar Akhtar, Founder and CEO of Finalrentals successfully secures a spot in Tech Nation’s prestigious Libra Programme and becomes the only Wales-based business amongst a cohort of 25. Tech Nation’s Libra Programme is dedicated to empowering and connecting underrepresented tech founders, equipping them with the knowledge, connections, and tools necessary to scale their tech startups. According to Tech Nation, the UK’s Black and Multi-Ethnic communities comprise 14% of the UK population, yet all-ethnic teams received an average of 1.7% of the venture capital investments made at seed, early and late stage between 2009 and 2019. Established in December 2016, Finalrentals launched with no investment but a wealth of industry experience from Akhtars decade…

GS Verde Group has appointed a new non-executive director, James Lewis.  James is an experienced corporate finance and capital markets specialist, with over 25 years of experience derived from roles with major investment banks including Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse, and Big 4 accountancy practices KPMG and Deloitte. James joins the Board at a time of growth for GS Verde Group and immediately follows the Group’s recent announcement of its successful seven-figure raise and the admission of its shares to the  JP Jenkins secondary market platform. Within GS Verde Group the appointment is seen to mark the beginning of the…