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Business News Wales
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Business News Wales
Filmmaker and Director of Arts Awarded Honorary Fellowship
Catryn Ramasut, Director of Arts for the Arts Council of Wales, has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship by Cardiff Metropolitan University for her dedication to the industry. A strategic leader and entrepreneurial media practitioner, Catryn has over 25 years' experience transforming creative industries and arts organisations. A Cardiff-born, Welsh-speaking woman of mixed heritage, she brings a distinctive perspective to Wales's evolving cultural landscape, the university said. Catryn was the inaugural Chair of Welsh Government's Creative Wales, and is a former long-standing board member of Chapter Arts Centre. She is Wales' representative on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's Creative Industries Council and has recently been appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the Welsh language broadcaster S4C. In these roles, she has demonstrated her ability to provide strategic direction, foster growth in the creative industries, and champion diversity and inclusion. She is also Co-Founder and former Managing Director of Cardiff-based ie ie productions, known for producing acclaimed films including 'American Interior' and 'Rockfield: The Studio on the Farm'. Most recently, she co-produced 'Brides' which premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Catryn said: 'This Honorary Fellowship is meaningful recognition from Cardiff Met of the journey I've taken across both the arts and creative industries. My path hasn't been conventional – I've had to take risks, forge my own way, and create opportunities where they didn't exist. To have that work acknowledged by an institution developing the next generation of creatives shows how far we've come in recognising diverse routes to leadership.' After meeting in Bangkok in the 1960s, Catryn's Thai father and Welsh mother settled in Wales in the 1970s. Growing up in Cardiff and educated through the medium of Welsh, Catryn developed a deep appreciation for Welsh arts and culture that would later shape her professional vision. Her dual heritage, entrepreneurial background and Welsh-language education remain central to her identity and approach to creative leadership, the university said. Dr Bethan Gordon, Dean of the Cardiff School of Art and Design at Cardiff Metropolitan University, said: 'Catryn brings a unique perspective to Wales's cultural landscape. Her work strongly resonates with Cardiff Met's commitment to community engagement and reflects the diversity of the communities we serve locally and nationally. 'It's an honour to present Catryn with an Honorary Fellowship – her contribution to the creative industries complements Cardiff School of Art and Design's day to day academic delivery, as well as our strategic ambitions – and we look forward to working together moving forward.' During the graduation ceremony at Wales Millennium Centre, Catryn gave advice to students from the School of Art and Design: 'You are stepping into uncharted waters. Be enthusiastic – build your skillset, learn from others, know your strengths and identify where you need to develop. 'Remember that this sector thrives on connections and collaboration. Relationships are key. Embrace opportunities even if they seem beneath you and approach them with positivity. These experiences teach you how the industry really works. Once you've built your toolkit, back yourself. Take risks, challenge conventions, and use your diverse perspectives to drive innovation. It's a learning curve with setbacks, but that's how you shape your creative future.'
BBC News
30-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Swansea City Ladies football says ACL injury was mental torture
A footballer who ruptured major ligaments in each of her knees has said recovery from the injuries was "mental torture". Chloe Chivers, 26, who plays for Swansea City Ladies, said she was "stuck in the house" after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and considered retirement. Studies have found female footballers are up to eight times more likely than men to injure their ACLs, and players including Wales' Megan Wynne will miss Euro 2025, which starts on Wednesday, as a result. Experts warned a lack of structured performance pathways in women's football was a leading factor. Chivers, 26, from Abertillery in Blaenau Gwent, ruptured the ACL in her right knee in 2018 playing in the qualifying round of the Women's Champions League for Cardiff Met. In 2021, she then ruptured the same ligament in her left knee. "My first one was just a clean rupture, just a turn, and my second one was actual dislocation which caused the rupture," she said. "I sort of remember someone coming in to tackle I thought 'if I don't jump over this, my ankle's going to break'."So I just remember jumping over the ball and yeah just my knee dislocated. I watched it dislocate." Chivers, who is semi-pro and is also a residential support worker, had previously told herself she would retire if she ever injured her ACL, but her family's encouragement helped her get through two successful operations and back on the pitch. "You can't drive, you can't work, you're stuck in the house, you've got to rely on everyone," she said. "It was like mental torture – that's the only way to describe it."Before injuring myself I said if I ever did my ACL I'd retire, so I was really, really reluctant to actually have the operation."I just remember my Mam being like 'come on, you've got to do it'. I just wanted to do it for my family really more than anything." Research has long suggested ACL injuries are more prevalent in female directional changes and landing after heading the ball are common events on a football pitch that can lead to ACL injuries. The injury typically takes about six to nine months to recover from, although returns to competitive sports can take between nine months and a year, sometimes longer. A study by Leeds Beckett University found 14 Women's Super League players sustained ACL injuries either in the league or on international duty since August 2024. They've also launched a three-year research into the injury with Fifpro, the Professional Footballers' Association and high-profile names have suffered injuries, including England captain Leah Williamson, who was absent for the 2023 World Cup, and former Ballon d'Or Feminin runner-up Sam Kerr, who has not played since 2024. Wales' Sophie Ingle has raced back to fitness for the Euros after injuring her ACL in September. But her teammate Wynne was not so lucky and will miss Wales' competition debut. Wynne, 32, who plays for Perth Glory in Australia, suffered an ACL injury in the final game of the season in April. She said she had spoken to head coach Rhian Wilkinson three days before the injury. "She said 'good luck for your last game' and said she was looking forward to catching up when I get back."Obviously, as soon as I did it, that was in the back of my mind that, that chance if I ever did get it, it's over."So yeah, I don't know whether I might have been involved in the May squad, it's hard to kind of think of the what ifs." It was Wynne's second ACL injury - the first coming in 2020 just weeks after joining Bristol City. "Physically, I was probably the strongest I've been in the gym. Just sometimes you just can't help it," she said of her second injury."You've got to wait for the scan results and everything, but unfortunately I already knew by the look on people's faces and the physio's face - something was up."She said recovery had been "hard", especially as her teammates were preparing to compete in the Euros, but she said she was "proud" to have been involved and was looking forward to watching Wales "have the opportunity they all really deserve". Why do women get more ACL injuries? Sara Gray, a graduate sports therapist, said the risk to an ACL injury was "multi-factorial"."Women are not small men we are built very differently and even down to the structure of our bones they sit slightly differently," she said."If we look at where the ACL attaches on the female thigh bone it's smaller in women so if that's smaller, the ACL tends to be smaller and a little bit weaker."She also said the way the thigh bone aligned with the knee also placed the ACL under "a little bit more stress". Dr Kate Williams, a senior lecturer in sports therapy at the University of South Wales, said the biggest difference between male and female athletes was the "physical preparation and performance pathway experiences"."Males have a really good structure for going through an academy or a structured performance pathway."They are given access to excellent medical care, physical preparation, strength and conditioning programs, technical coaching."Females, she added, "don't necessarily have that structure". Research also suggests oestrogen peaks during menstrual cycles can reduce joint Dr Williams said research should go into injury prevention programmes rather than a focus on structural and hormonal difference. "The whole team undertakes a standardized warm-up that addresses a number of physical concerns that predispose our female athletes to ACLs," she said. "As long as we start them them two to three times per week, and we target our younger players, they can be effective in reducing ACL injuries by around 60%."
Wales Online
20-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
University staff and students to protest as jobs go and compulsory redundancy notices served
University staff and students to protest as jobs go and compulsory redundancy notices served Compulsory job losses "a red line" that will affect students too, said staff at Cardiff Metropolitan University Staff and students are joining forces to protest against compulsory job losses at Cardiff Metropolitan University. The rally at the Llandaff campus on Thursday May 22 is the start of an "escalating campaign" against the cuts, the UCU union, representing staff said. The UCU said that despite getting a £1.73m funding boost from the Welsh Government in February, Cardiff Met still aims to cut up to 14% of its teaching workforce with compulsory redundancy notices served in April. The proposed compulsory redundancies come on the back of three rounds of voluntary severance.. "Collective consultation closed on Monday May 19th and despite calls from the union, Cardiff Met continues to threaten compulsory redundancies for up to 61 academic staff members across the university, with over 100 put on notice of being at risk," the UCU said. Gareth Lloyd, UCU Wales official said:'This is very disappointing. The Minister for FE and HE made it clear that the additional cash should be used to cover operating costs and take pressure off staff budgets. Whilst we are keen to work in partnership and find solutions, compulsory redundancies constitute a red line which cannot be crossed. When it comes to saving money, we will never let managers see our members' jobs as the path of least resistance'. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . Llandaff campus, Cardiff Metropolitan University He said staff are worried not just for those whose jobs are at risk but also the workload for potential remaining staff and the effect on next year's students. Owen Stickler, senior lecturer in animation, said: 'We are all concerned that redundancies would impact on staff workload and morale as well as being detrimental to the student experience.' Article continues below Most of the academic jobs on the line are 'student facing' with implications for learners as well as staff, the union said. The cuts will inevitably involve larger classes and less one to one contact time for students, staff warned. Jan Huyton, programme director at the university, said: 'Obviously the student experience will be affected as services are put under strain, because we are not currently over-staffed on service delivery to students.' UCU negotiators at Cardiff Met have submitted their counter proposal outlining how the university can move forward without compulsory redundancies. A branch spokesperson from Cardiff Met UCU said: "We realise that these are tough times for universities, but cutting front line staff is not the way forward. We have met with all of the members at risk, and the institutional loss of academic knowledge would be substantial". Staff morale is said to be "at rock bottom". Those who have been identified are equally perplexed as many of them are previously valued staff with excellent track records. One member of staff affected said: "I find it deeply concerning that we are in this position, especially because of the contribution we have made to all aspects of academic life over the past few years; excellent student reviews, high quality research and increasing innovation, without a hint of management unhappiness. "It appears very unfair and unjustifiable that we have suddenly been targeted as being at-risk of redundancy. This situation is affecting morale and good will among the staff, something which has always considered to be very important working at Cardiff Met.'] A Cardiff Met spokesperson said: 'Cardiff Metropolitan University, like many universities across the UK, is working hard to safeguard its long-term financial sustainability in the face of changing contexts for higher education in the UK. We are doing this so that we can continue to make a positive difference to individuals and communities in Wales and the wider world through our progressive and distinctive teaching, research and innovation. 'We know that this is an uncertain and difficult time for all staff, and especially for those who are directly affected. We value the relationship that we have with our recognised trades unions and the contribution that they make to our university, and we fully respect the rights of trades unions to act on behalf of their members. "We are committed to open, constructive dialogue and will continue working closely with all recognised trade unions and their representatives throughout this challenging period.' Cardiff Met currently employs 1,600 permanent and fixed term staff and has more thanr 31,000 students from 130 countries enrolled on programmes located in Cardiff and at 12 "collaborative partners" around the globe. It said the £1.73m funding was provided to universities across Wales from Welsh Government earlier this year was to help them meet capital costs associated with estate maintenance and digital projects to reduce operating costs as well as improving environmental sustainability. "This work, when undertaken, will allow us to make more savings in the future," the spokesperson added. Thursday's planned rally follows protests at Cardiff University over proposed job losses and department closures there. Job cuts are also planned at the University of South Wales and Bangor. Cardiff University last week issued an update on redundancies with 650 staff still under threat of losing their jobs there and you can read details of that here. Bangor University staff also received a message from their Vice Chancellor, Professor Edmund Burke last week, saying a further 78 jobs will go there. Bangor announced 200 job cuts earlier this year saying it needed to make savings of £15m. The University of Wales Trinity Saint David announced plans in January to end undergraduate teaching at its Lampeter campus, the University of South Wales have also announced job cuts and Swansea University is carrying out a "curriculum review".. Official estimates from Universities Wales puts the joint combined deficit of all universities here at £70+ by the end of this academic year. Only UWTSD and Wrexham University ended last academic year not in deficit. Article continues below MPs are due to hear from Vice chancellors of universities in Wales when they appear before them to discuss the ongoing financial pressure and challenges for higher education. The Welsh Affairs Committee hearing next month will look at what the UK Government and the Welsh Government could do to "ensure a sustainable future for the sector" amid widespread job and course cuts.
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Taylor to stay on as Swansea City Women head coach
Yzzy Taylor has been named head coach of Swansea City Women for the 2025-26 season after taking charge on an interim basis in Cardiff Met boss Taylor joined Swansea as assistant to Jamie Sherwood last summer before taking the reins when he left the who is also part of the Wales Women Under-19s coaching staff, made a positive impact at the end of what was a disappointing season for Swansea, who finished fifth in the Adran Premier."I'm keen to carry the momentum from the end of last season into next season," she said."This squad is strong, and I have full confidence in every player to improve and develop ahead of next year's campaign. The hard work starts now."Swansea's women's team have been semi-professional since 2023, when they formally became part of the men's Championship chief executive Tom Gorringe said: "We're delighted that Yzzy has committed to the Swans. "Since she took over as caretaker head coach, we've been on a great run and we're excited to see how the team, under her leadership, can improve next season."
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Caernarfon beat Met to reach Euro play-off final
Caernarfon Town booked their place in the Cymru Premier European play-off final with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Cardiff Met. Following a goalless draw in regular time, Swansea City loanee Ben Hughes saved spot-kicks from Eliot Evans and Matt Chubb as the Canaries won 4-2 on penalties to set up a tie with Haverfordwest County in the final on 18 May. Richard Davies' side dominated long periods of the opening half at The Oval without overly troubling the Archers. Despite a brief improvement from Met, who had not won away from home in the league since September, the Canaries continued to look the likelier to bulge the net in the second half in north Wales. Substitute Josh Lock caused the visitors numerous problems, and Paulo Mendes also headed wide. Following a stoic defensive effort from the away side, goalkeeper Hughes had to produce two vital saves to deny Ryan Reynolds and Thomas Vincent in quick succession late on to send the tie to a shootout. Louis Lloyd, Lock, Morgan Owen and Jake Canavan all scored their penalties for the hosts while Jack Veale and Lewis Rees netted from 12 yards out for the visitors, with Hughes' two saves proving decisive. Caernarfon now target a spot in the first qualifying round of the Uefa Conference League for the second year running as they battle it out with Haverfordwest - who ended the regular season in third - in the final.
