Latest news with #WelshGovernment
Leader Live
18 hours ago
- Business
- Leader Live
Working Wales service reaches 200,000th customer milestone
Working Wales, a free advice and guidance service funded by the Welsh Government, has now supported 200,000 people on their employment journeys. Among those who have benefited is 27-year-old James from Wrexham, who turned to the service after five years in the television industry left him at a career crossroads. James said: "I didn't really know what to do. "I didn't want to just get a job anywhere. "I wanted a career that I can work towards – something I can move up in and do something using my skills in a different way." After visiting the Careers Wales centre in Wrexham, James met adviser Laura, who helped him explore his options. James Veal (Image: Supplied) James said: "I was just completely honest with Laura when we met. "And she was really honest with me too. "It was refreshing. "We talked about different careers and ideas, and when I said there were certain jobs I definitely didn't want to do, she didn't question it – she just said, 'That's fine. "Let's talk about what you do want to do.'" During their conversation, Laura noticed James' involvement in a vintage machinery club, where he organised events and managed volunteers. James said: "Laura looked at that and said, 'You've got all these skills in events. "Have you ever thought about working in that?'" With her support, James began applying for roles in events and eventually secured a position as an events assistant at the Llangollen Railway Trust. He said: "Laura helped me see how to read a job application properly... what I need to include in my CV and how to write a cover letter. "Laura helped me to see my potential and boost my confidence. "I'd really recommend Careers Wales. "Especially if you're looking for a new opportunity or career change. "Come and have a chat – they're so friendly and they will help you." The 200,000th customer was Pauline Smith from Cardiff, who sought support after taking voluntary redundancy from her radio production job earlier this year. The 57-year-old was torn between continuing freelance work and pursuing her interest in yoga teaching. Encouraged by a friend, she explored the ReAct+ scheme and booked an appointment with careers adviser Gareth Richards at her local Working Wales centre. ReAct+ is a Welsh Government programme offering tailored advice and financial support for training, travel, and care costs. Pauline said: "It's much more about giving people confidence that they are okay. "It was just nice to talk through with somebody the fact that I've taken redundancy, and to look at where I was at and where I was going to go. "Everybody has something to offer when they walk through those doors – it's just finding out what that is and how confident they are in those." Pauline Smith (Image: Supplied) Nikki Lawrence, chief executive of Careers Wales, said: "Reaching our 200,000th customer is a major milestone for Working Wales and a clear reflection of the impact we're having on individuals and the wider Welsh economy. "James and Pauline's stories highlight how we help people at every stage of life to build their confidence, develop their skills, and find meaningful work." Working Wales, delivered by Careers Wales, offers personalised support to anyone aged 16 and over, whether they are just starting out, facing redundancy, or looking to retrain. The service is available online, by phone, and in-person across Wales.
Powys County Times
18 hours ago
- Powys County Times
New plants for stations along Heart of Wales line in Powys
Railway stations are set to bloom thanks to a new planting project. Five stations along the Heart of Wales line have been given new floral planters as part of a biodiversity scheme funded by a Welsh Government Local Places for Nature grant. The planters, located at Builth Road, Llandrindod, Penybont, Knucklas and Knighton, aim to support wildlife and improve the appearance of the stations. Ben Mullen, nature recovery officer with the Powys Nature Partnership, said: "We were looking to fund green infrastructure on the transport network in Powys and involving Transport for Wales, their local volunteer station adopters and the Heart of Wales Line Community Rail Partnership was a perfect fit. "In addition to perennial, pollinator-friendly plants, native wildflowers were planted into peat-free compost. "These will provide pollen and nectar for many species such as bees, hoverflies, butterflies and moths. "The planters will act as 'stepping stones' within the wider environment and show that small-scale planting can make a big difference to our declining nature." The project is a collaboration between Transport for Wales, the Heart of Wales Line Community Rail Partnership, and local station volunteers. Geraint Morgan, community rail manager for Transport for Wales, said: "Stations are important gateways to communities along the line and first impressions matter. "This grant has helped enhance existing green features at the five stations, which will be cared for by our dedicated teams of local volunteers." The planters were made by Norman Industries, a supported employment enterprise based in Haverfordwest. Owen Griffkin, community rail officer for the Heart of Wales Line Community Rail Partnership, said: "We were delighted to partner with Powys County Council in making our stations more welcoming for the community and the many tourists who travel on the railway.
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
School closures ruled out by Monmouthshire County Council
A petition has claimed Kymin View Primary School, in Wyesham, Monmouth could be closed and the recently established Ysgol Gymraeg Trefynwy would move into its building. But Councillor Laura Wright, Monmouthshire County Council's cabinet member for education, has dismissed school closures as a solution to surplus places and denied any proposal to remove English medium education from Kymin View. The council has said it is having to address falling pupil numbers in Monmouth and Chepstow but has said: 'The county council wishes to clarify that there are no plans to close Kymin View or any other school within the county.' Labour's Cllr Wright said: 'Monmouthshire County Council, schools, parents and members of the community will need to work together to think about how we address surplus places in our schools. However, I have been very clear that school closures are not part of the solution. We are also not proposing to remove English medium education from Kymin View.' Her comments come after the council had issued a statement earlier in the week that described claims over the future of Kymin View as 'speculative' and said it has yet to make any 'firm' proposals on how to deal with surplus places. The statement from Cllr Wright was issued due to 'concern and anxiety in Monmouth prompted by rumours circulating online and in the local media'. Cllr Wright acknowledged the 'higher than average' number of vacant places in Monmouth primary schools needs to be addressed and said: 'As you would expect, there have been some very early stage conversations about the low pupil numbers in some of our schools and the challenge that this presents. Having those discussions is the right and responsible thing for us to do.' At the county council's July meeting it was stated by director of education, Will McLean, the Chepstow and Monmouth school clusters have 'significant numbers of surplus places' which he said was about 200 primary age pupils in both areas. Mr McLean also said it isn't anticipated new housing, including those expected from the council's ongoing local development plan, will produce a 'sufficient' number of youngsters to fill the empty places. He said the council wants to work with the four schools in Monmouth on solutions and said a meeting, with schools earlier in July, looked at what the 'likely solution could be for dealing with surplus places' as well as the long-term future of Ysgol Gymraeg Trefynwy which opened last September within Overmonnow Primary in Monmouth. He said any proposals will have to be made in line with Welsh Government regulations and said working through the options would likely be a 'challenging and complex period'. Mr McLean said reports on addressing surplus places in both Monmouth and Chepstow will likely be brought to the council's scrutiny committees, and the decision making cabinet, in the autumn term. Plans for the school building programme, to be submitted to the Welsh Government, will also be considered though Mr McLean cautioned: 'New schools cost an awful lot of money.'
ITV News
a day ago
- Business
- ITV News
Welsh Government 'rushed' purchase of festival farm, now worth half a million pounds less
Wales Politics The Welsh Government made 'avoidable mistakes' during the 'rushed' purchase of a Powys farm that is now worth half a million pounds less than it cost, according to a report by the Senedd's watchdog committee. Gilestone Farm, near Talybont-on-Usk, was bought in 2022 for £4.25m, as part of a plan to secure the future of the Green Man Festival, a plan that was finally scuppered when nesting ospreys were discovered on the site. But the Senedd's Public Accounts and Public Administration committee has found what it calls 'signifiant failings in the handling of the acquisition". The committee's report says that the purchase was 'rushed' because of end-of-year budget pressures. It says the property, which is still owned by the Welsh Government but run as a working farm, is now worth half a million pounds less than its value in 2022. The Welsh Government insists that it followed 'proper processes' in buying the farm and that it continues to explore 'potential opportunities for its future use". Mark Isherwood, who chairs the Public Accounts and Public Administration committee, said: 'The Committee is deeply concerned by the Welsh Government's handling of the purchase of Gilestone Farm. "While we recognise the importance of acting swiftly to support the creative sector, this decision was taken with avoidable haste and without the thorough due diligence that the public rightly expects. It raises serious questions about internal processes and the robustness of governance structures. 'Furthermore, the Welsh Government must do more to ensure that communities are not only consulted but genuinely listened to. Engagement must be meaningful, inclusive, and consistent. 'The significant loss in the value of the property is particularly notable in the current financial climate, and we expect the Welsh Government to clarify its future intentions for the site and to set out how it will mitigate the financial loss to the public purse. 'To ensure lessons are learned, the Committee will want to carry out further work looking at the Welsh Government's approach to property investments, to assess whether current processes are sufficiently rigorous and fit for purpose.' The Welsh Government will now consider the report and issue its response. A spokesperson said: 'Gilestone Farm was acquired in 2022, following proper processes and in keeping with market values at the time, in order to support the growth of the Creative Sector in Wales and a stronger Mid-Wales economy. 'We were delighted to learn in August 2023 of the arrival of the pair of mating ospreys, which returned in 2024, and again this year. Their first egg hatched in early June 2025. This is believed to be a first for the Usk Valley in at least 250 years and marks an important milestone in the protection of this important species. 'The arrival of the ospreys necessarily impacted on the planned use of the farm, and the original project had to be stopped. Gilestone remains one of the Welsh Government's property assets, and is being managed on our behalf as a working farm. We continue to explore potential opportunities for its future use, in keeping with our commitment to seek a sustainable outcome that helps local communities thrive. 'We will read the Committee's report with interest, and respond in due course.' The Welsh Conservatives have renewed their criticism in the wake of today's report. Brecon and Radnorshire MS, James Evans, said: "The purchase of Gilestone Farm should never have happened in the first place and the process around its purchase raises serious questions about Welsh Government internal procedures. 'The Labour Government has spent millions without a full, open tendering process or meaningful engagement with the community. Public funds must be spent with care and due diligence. 'The next time the Labour Government reaches for the cheque book, they should listen to local concerns and act with far greater transparency. In the meantime, Gilestone Farm remains the most expensive publicly owned 'bird nest' in history.'
Powys County Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
'Significant failings' in Green Man Gilestone Farm purchase
There were 'significant failings' in the Welsh Government's controversial purchase of Gilestone Farm, a new cross-party report has found. The farm in Talybont on Usk in Powys was purchased by the Welsh Government for £4.25 million in 2022 in order to lease to the owners of the Green Man Festival. The Senedd's Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee have now found that 'avoidable mistakes' were made. In a report released today (July 28), multiple failings were found - raising broader concerns about 'governance, due diligence, and community engagement'. Chair of the Committee Mark Isherwood MS said: 'The Committee is deeply concerned by the Welsh Government's handling of the purchase of Gilestone Farm. 'While we recognise the importance of acting swiftly to support the creative sector, this decision was taken with avoidable haste and without the thorough due diligence that the public rightly expects. 'It raises serious questions about internal processes and the robustness of governance structures.' The report finds failings with how officials interacted with people in the local community who 'felt disengaged and uninformed about the Welsh Government's intentions, with failings acknowledged by officials'. It also found that the Welsh Government 'did not keep a record of matters discussed with Green Man in various meetings during its consideration of Green Man's outline business plan and leading up to the purchase of the Farm.' The committee found that the one of the Welsh Government's key motivations to buy the farm quickly 'was the opportunity to use an in-year underspend to fund the purchase, along with the consequential requirement to complete the purchase by 31 March 2022'. The report found that this 'avoidable haste" was "driven by the financial year-end" and "compromised the Welsh Government's ability to clearly articulate and fully consider as part of its decision-making process the underlying rationale for purchasing the site'. Since the purchase, the site has seen the arrival of nesting Ospreys in 2023, the first time they have been seen so far south in over 200 years. As a result an 'Osprey Conservation Plan' has been put in place, leading to complications at the site for further use In a letter quoted in the report it notes that 'it is clear that the full commercial and charitable objectives of the Green Man Group, as set out in its business plan for the use of Gilestone Farm, can no longer be realised. 'This is because the report advises that a 750m restricted zone around the nest must be in place on the farm within which only very limited human activity can take place.' Help support trusted local news Sign up for a digital subscription now: As a digital subscriber you will get Unlimited access to the County Times website Advert-light access Reader rewards Full access to our app A subsequent valuation has found the site is now valued at £3.75m. 'The significant loss in the value of the property is particularly notable in the current financial climate, and we expect the Welsh Government to clarify its future intentions for the site and to set out how it will mitigate the financial loss to the public purse,' added Mr Isherwood. 'To ensure lessons are learned, the Committee will want to carry out further work looking at the Welsh Government's approach to property investments, to assess whether current processes are sufficiently rigorous and fit for purpose.'
