Latest news with #JoeYates
Leader Live
29-06-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
Nursing at Wrexham Uni ranked top in UK for satisfaction
The latest Complete University Guide 2026 places the university's nursing programme at the top of the national rankings for student satisfaction, as well as joint first in the UK, and first in Wales, for graduate prospects. Professor Joe Yates, vice-chancellor of Wrexham University, said: "I am thrilled that nursing at Wrexham University has been ranked top in the UK for student satisfaction, as well as joint first in the UK for graduate prospects in the Nursing subject league table, in the Complete University Guide 2026. "We are enormously proud of our strong reputation for student satisfaction, here at Wrexham – and these latest rankings demonstrate that our staff go above and beyond to support and empower our students in all that they do." Wrexham University offers BN (Hons) Nursing degrees in adult nursing, children's nursing, and mental health nursing at both its Wrexham and St Asaph campuses. Professor Yates said the recognition highlights the university's commitment to its 2030 Vision and Strategy. READ MORE: Wrexham's River Island shop among those set to be closed by the company He said: "This recognition speaks directly to the core of our 2030 Vision and Strategy, which is rooted in delivering an exceptional and inclusive student experience, as well as preparing our graduates to thrive in their chosen careers. "In professions such as nursing, where compassionate, skilled professionals are in ever-increasing demand, we are proud to be leading the way nationally. "Congratulations to our nursing colleagues, who work tirelessly to provide an excellent experience for our students." Earlier this month, Wrexham University was also named top in Wales for overall student satisfaction, and joint third in the UK out of 130 higher education institutions. The university currently has places available for its adult nursing and mental health nursing degree programmes starting this September. An open day will take place on Friday, August 15, from 10am to 2pm. For more information, visit
Leader Live
27-06-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
Popular Wrexham arts centre still struggling to make profit
The venue – a key part of Wrexham's UK City of Culture 2029 bid – has actually reduced its overspend year-on-year since over the last four years. Next Wednesday, Wrexham County Borough Council's Employment, Business and Investment Scrutiny Committee will consider the performance of Tŷ Pawb over the last 12 months and the venue's projected performance for 2025/26. Unless further savings of additional revenue can be found, by April next year Tŷ Pawb is projected to have overspent its budget by more than half a million pounds since 2022. Proactive measures to improve revenue at the venue include the creation of an income maximisation group which has tightened up Tŷ Pawb's financial monitoring and ensures opportunities to bring in new revenue are taken. In 2024/25 it brought in £23,513 and is aiming to bring in a further £22,000 this year. Market rents have increased 5% to keep up with inflation and the Useful Arts Space can no longer be used for free, with a charging framework in place and provision for eligible groups with external funding to use the space. Other measures to reduce the budget pressure have included the implementation of new venue hire rates. 'Tŷ Pawb is a vital and much loved community hub,' said Chair of Wrexham Community and Culture Trust Joanna Swash. 'Its diverse cultural programme of internationally-renowned exhibitions, performing arts, markets and family activities attracts local, national and international visitors to Wrexham City Centre. 'Tŷ Pawb supports many of the objectives of Wrexham's bid to become UK City of Culture in 2029. The importance of a thriving and dynamic cultural spacer cannot be overstated.' Investment is still needed at Tŷ Pawb which is contributing to the financial pressure. Investigations are ongoing into issues with the roof and the installation this summer of a new £63,000 car park management system to improve efficiency. Last year the venue spent £42,000 on roof patching, flood repair works and upgrades to car park lighting. The venue will also convert its Maker Space into a rentable retail unit, with its existing 'artist in residence' programme becoming a roaming role occupying vacant spaces as they occur. Tŷ Pawb's popularity continues to increase however, with footfall increasing 17% last year and its profile was raised in both the media and social media as it became a magnet for international media looking to learn more about the fabric of Wrexham society as the city's global reputation has blossomed. 'We are incredibly fortunate to have a vibrant and dynamic arts scene here in Wrexham, which Tŷ Pawb plays a pivotal role in,' said Vice-Chancellor of Wrexham University, Professor Joe Yates. 'Tŷ Pawb is one of the jewels in our city's crown and enriches the lives of our community.'
Wales Online
27-06-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
A Welsh university's nursing degrees have been ranked top in the UK
A Welsh university's nursing degrees have been ranked top in the UK The university's nursing degree has ranked highly in a prestigious guide that looks at all universities across the UK A Wrexham University nursing student with a patient (Image: Wrexham University ) A Welsh university's nursing degrees have been ranked top in the UK for student satisfaction in the Complete University Guide 2026. The Guide has also ranked Wrexham University joint first in the UK – and first in Wales – for graduate prospects in the nursing subject league table. Wrexham also ranked top in Wales for student satisfaction overall in the guide, as well as joint third in the UK for the same metric out of 130 higher education institutions. Wrexham University offers Nursing BN (Hons) courses in adult nursing, children's nursing and mental health nursing at its Wrexham and St Aaspah campuses. Professor Joe Yates, Vice-Chancellor, said he was "enormously proud" of the result and that his university has worked to widen participation in marginalised communities locally. Wrexham University Vice Chancellor Professor Joe Yates (Image: Wrexham University ) 'We are enormously proud of our strong reputation for student satisfaction, here at Wrexham – and these latest rankings demonstrate that our staff go above and beyond to support and empower our students in all that they do," he said. 'This recognition speaks directly to the core of our 2030 vision and strategy, which is rooted in delivering an exceptional and inclusive student experience, as well as preparing our graduates to thrive in their chosen careers. In professions such as nursing, where compassionate, skilled professionals are in ever-increasing demand, we are proud to be leading the way nationally. Article continues below 'Congratulations to our nursing colleagues, who work tirelessly to provide an excellent experience for our students.' Wrexham and the University of Wales Trinity St David are the only two of Wales' eight universities not to post deficits in their most recent financial reports. Professor Yates told the Commons Welsh Affairs Committee earlier this week that his university works hard to "reach out to communities across Wales" to have a "transformational" impact on individuals and communities, but this brings extra cost. He was joined by vice chancellors of all eight universities in Wales to give evidence on pressures on funding. You can read more about what they told the committee here. Questioned by MPs Professor Yates told the committee Wrexham takes a high number of students with "recognisable disability" as well as high numbers from mainstream schools and people who are the first generation in their family to study for degrees. "What that means for our university in particular is reaching out into marginalised communities trying to widen participation and I know that's a mkssion shared by colleagues (at other universuties in Wales). Article continues below "That brings additional cost and additional investment and to give you a flavour of tha 19% of my students recruite from home, in terms of Wales, have got some sort of identifiable disability. "Also we recruit a really high number of students from state schools and also students who are the first in their generation to come to university."
Business News Wales
25-06-2025
- Health
- Business News Wales
Nursing at Wrexham University Ranked Top in UK for Student Satisfaction
Nursing at Wrexham University has been ranked top in the UK for student satisfaction in the Complete University Guide 2026. The Guide has also ranked the institution joint first in the UK – and first in Wales – for graduate prospects in the Nursing subject league table. Wrexham University offers Nursing BN (Hons) courses in Adult Nursing, Children's Nursing and Mental Health Nursing at its Wrexham and St Asaph campuses. Earlier this month, the university celebrated the news that it had been ranked top in Wales for student satisfaction overall in the Guide, as well as joint third in the UK for the same metric – out of 130 higher education institutions. Professor Joe Yates, Vice-Chancellor, said: 'I am thrilled that nursing at Wrexham University has been ranked top in the UK for student satisfaction, as well as joint first in the UK for graduate prospects in the Nursing subject league table, in the Complete University Guide 2026. 'We are enormously proud of our strong reputation for student satisfaction, here at Wrexham – and these latest rankings demonstrate that our staff go above and beyond to support and empower our students in all that they do. 'This recognition speaks directly to the core of our 2030 Vision and Strategy, which is rooted in delivering an exceptional and inclusive student experience, as well as preparing our graduates to thrive in their chosen careers. In professions such as nursing, where compassionate, skilled professionals are in ever-increasing demand, we are proud to be leading the way nationally. 'Congratulations to our nursing colleagues, who work tirelessly to provide an excellent experience for our students.' Some places are available on the University's Adult Nursing and Mental Health Nursing degree courses, which are starting in September. You could be eligible for a fully funded NHS bursary to support your studies, find out more here . Whether you've not quite decided where to study or even if university is right for you, come and see what we have to offer at our next open day, taking place on Friday, August 15, from 10am to 2pm. Book your place here.
Leader Live
07-06-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
Brand new Wrexham University centre nears completion
The centre is part of the North Wales Growth Deal and is set to become a hub for industry engagement, research, and innovation. Construction began in February 2024, and on Thursday, June 5, university colleagues, the main contractor Wynne Construction, and Ambition North Wales gathered to celebrate the project's progress. The new building will provide a centre for collaboration and skills development in sustainability, renewables, and high-value manufacturing, with a particular focus on lightweight composites, hydrogen technologies, and optics and photonics expertise. The centre is spread across two university sites, the Plas Coch campus in Wrexham and the OpTIC Technology Centre at the St Asaph campus. The university is committed to reducing its environmental impact, and the construction of the centre was planned to contribute positively to decarbonisation, biodiversity, and social value goals. Various materials were selected to minimise the carbon footprint, including photovoltaic panels to generate electricity, innovative insulation to reduce energy use, and a heat pump system to minimise reliance on traditional heating. Low-carbon steel, made from recycled steel, was used in the construction, and ground granulated blast-furnace slag, a by-product of steel manufacturing, was used in the concrete mix to further reduce the carbon footprint. The university's campuses have seen a 30.5 per cent increase in biodiversity as a result of the project, with trees planted and wildflower seeds sown at the Northop campus to provide a habitat for insects, birds, and small animals. Professor Joe Yates, vice-chancellor of Wrexham University, said: "The near completion of the EEOC building also marks a superb milestone for sustainability in the project's positive contributions to decarbonisation, social value and enhancing biodiversity. "The project team have done an excellent job—from ensuring that materials were carefully selected and sourced to ensure a reduction in our carbon footprint to a 30% increase in biodiversity on our campuses." Social and local economic value targets were surpassed during the construction phase, with more than 400 jobs safeguarded and nearly 60 per cent of the workforce residing in Wales. The supply chain strategy directed 76 per cent of spend to North Wales SMEs. Apprenticeships have been key in building skills in the area, with 80 per cent of apprentices recruited from North Wales. Chris Wynne, managing director of Wynne Construction, said: "We are incredibly proud to have collaborated with Wrexham University on the delivery of this exceptional building and to play a role in a transformative programme that benefits not only the University but the wider North Wales region." READ MORE: Drivers ignoring changes to Wrexham city centre putting others at 'significant risk' Cllr Dave Hughes, lead member for the North Wales Growth Deal's Innovation in High Value Manufacturing programme, Ambition North Wales, said: "The EEOC is a prime example of the sustainable, economic development we aim to deliver through our Innovation in High Value Manufacturing programme—securing high-value employment and training opportunities and supporting manufacturing businesses to decarbonise. "The project has really delivered at pace while maintaining a focus on its social value commitments, which I'm delighted were also highlighted today." The EEOC is on target to open for the start of the next academic year in September 2025.
