Latest news with #ClaireHughes
Business News Wales
05-08-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Geophysics Company Targets Growth as It Launches New North Wales HQ
Borehole geophysics technology leader Robertson Geo has officially opened its new headquarters, bringing all UK operations under one roof and marking a major step in the company's continued expansion. The move to Tre Morfa Enterprise Park in Conwy from sites in Deganwy and Llandudno follows sustained growth for the award-winning business, which serves customers in more than 160 countries and operates from additional bases in the US and Hong Kong. The new 20,500 square-foot facility features a purpose-built manufacturing facility, modern offices, a training hub, and a world-class calibration centre that will serve as a standard-setter for the markets they support — including the renewables, geotechnical, offshore wind, mining, energy, and environmental sectors. The interior has Japanese and Welsh influences including Bonsai trees, slate from local quarries, a Kaizen 'ideas wall' and bespoke, tailored details marrying industry and contemporary design. The firm plans to expand further within the park to accommodate its growing Robertson Geo Services team. Speaking at the launch, Managing Director Simon Garantini welcomed guests and thanked partners and staff: 'It's emotional leaving our previous premises after more than 45 years, but this move marks the start of an exciting new chapter. 'The new headquarters gives us the space and facilities to realise our ambitions, collaborate more effectively, and continue innovating at the forefront of our industry. 'Our team has grown, international demand is increasing — especially in the US and Asia — and we're now well-positioned to steadily double both our headcount and sales revenue.' The new HQ will also be home to the RG Academy, a global training centre to host bespoke programmes and welcome delegates from across the borehole geophysical and petrophysical logging arena to North Wales. Guests at the event included Cllr Emily Owen, Deputy Leader of Conwy County Council, Bangor Aberconwy MP Claire Hughes, and senior representatives from OYO Corporation of Japan, Robertson Geo's majority shareholder. At the event, Hirofumi Amano, President and CEO of OYO Corporation, presented Simon with a framed copy of The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusai. He said: 'This is a very big, beautiful building and will be a wonderful place to work for everyone at Robertson Geo. 'The picture we presented is a symbol of this company – how the crew and the boat will sail into the blue ocean and expand their horizons. We look forward to visiting again soon.' Claire Hughes MP said the commitment of Robertson GEO to Conwy was a boost for the local economy: 'This is a hugely impressive development for the area and a great example of a business with global reach choosing to invest in North Wales. 'With the company creating highly skilled jobs, exporting worldwide, and now training the next generation here in Conwy, it's a win for the whole region. That it coincides with the Year of Wales and Japan makes it even more special.' Cllr Owen added: 'This is really exciting for the area. To have a company making such strides globally and choosing to remain rooted in Conwy is fantastic – it's creating skilled jobs, supporting our economy, and flying the flag for Wales.' Emily Gleaves, Director of Abundant Properties, oversaw the build alongside MD Interior Fitout Specialists. Both based in Wirral, they collaborate on projects nationwide. 'This was a real partnership project from day one, and we're proud of the result. The feedback has been amazing, it's a building that reflects Robertson Geo's identity and gives its people a space to thrive,' she said. 'The way the staff in particular have embraced it and the looks on their faces when they saw the finished article was a great feeling.'
Newsweek
30-04-2025
- Health
- Newsweek
Why It Takes Parents Year To Understand How Kids Feel About Starting School
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. It takes most parents a full year to truly understand how their child feels about school, according to a new study led by psychologists at the University of Cambridge. The "Ready or Not" study, which tracked over 200 UK children through reception (pre-kindergarten) and year 1 (first grade), found that parents' perceptions of their child's school experience often lag reality—mirroring how the child actually felt a year earlier. "We found a clear and wide gap between how parents think their children feel about the first year of school, and how children actually feel about school," Professor Claire Hughes, who led the research, said in a statement. Group of happy elementary classmates listening to teacher during lesson. Group of happy elementary classmates listening to teacher during lesson. Ridofranz "Our research shows that it typically takes parents a year to tune into their child's experiences of school," Hughes continued. "By year 1, parents are often only just catching up to where their children were a year earlier." To help close this gap sooner, Hughes and her team partnered with writer Anita Lehmann and illustrator Karin Eklund to create "How I Feel About My School", a new picture book published on April 29 by Routledge. The book uses relatable stories and built-in prompts to encourage meaningful conversations between children and their caregivers about the ups and downs of school life. The research found that children's wellbeing at school tends to dip between reception and year 1, likely due to the transition from play-based learning to more structured academic demands. Yet, those who reported feeling good about school early on developed stronger confidence in their reading, writing and math abilities by the next year. "A closer understanding of how a child feels about starting school will allow parents to gauge wellbeing and help their child adapt as key stages kick in," Hughes said. "Happy children are better learners, and the first years of school can set the tone." The findings suggest that children don't always talk about school unless something's gone wrong, which can leave parents with a skewed view. The new book aims to normalize everyday emotional fluctuations and help parents tune in before a full year passes. "Kids have ups and downs in a day for lots of reasons," said Hughes. "There can be a tendency to over-medicalize sadness, but getting through a school day is a big deal for children, and problems are a natural part of that." With tools like "How I Feel About My School", parents may no longer have to wait until year 1 to finally see school through their child's eyes.
