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Business News Wales
10-06-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Awards Recognise Training Company's Apprenticeship Stars
Winners of the Apprenticeship, Employment and Skills Awards organised by Cambrian Training Company. The achievements of apprentices, employers and work-based learning practitioners from across Wales were celebrated at an awards ceremony in Mid Wales. Twenty-seven finalists competed for the Apprenticeship, Employment and Skills Awards organised by work-based learning provider Cambrian Training Company. The awards, held at The Metropole Hotel & Spa, Llandrindod Wells, recognised employers, learners and practitioners who have excelled in apprenticeship programmes delivered by the Welshpool-based company and its sub-contractors. A popular winner was autistic apprentice Aaron Jones, a waiter at Penycae Inn, Penycae, near Swansea, who received a standing ovation after collecting the Apprentice Special Recognition 2025 Award. 'In receiving this very special award, I am enormously proud and owe it to every single person in the audience but above all to my fellow team of staff at Penycae Inn and to those that have autism and other profound learning needs,' he told the audience. 'As a person with autism who works in the hospitality industry, this award means so much to me. Anybody with a learning or physical disability who is considering doing an apprenticeship should absolutely go for it.' He praised Cambrian Training Company's hospitality training officers Andrew Addis-Fuller and Leah Williams for their support and encouragement to achieve his goals, which include completing his Hospitality Supervision and Leadership Apprenticeship early next year. Aaron Jones from Penycae Inn receives the Apprentice Special Recognition 2025 Award from Arwyn Watkins, OBE The Foundation Apprentice of the Year was awarded to Cameron Long, a cleaning support services attendant at Elite Clothing Solutions, Ebbw Vale, who has completed a Supported Shared Apprenticeship with support from Elite Supported Employment. Apprentice of the Year was Cai Watkins, head of business unit contract manager for Cambrian Training Company, Welshpool, while the Higher Apprentice of the Year award went to Mathew Verallo, operations manager for The Celtic Collection's Tŷ Milford Waterfront, Milford Haven. The awards for employers was keenly contested. The Small Employer of the Year was Silver Assist Homecare, Llangorse, Brecon, Filco Markets, Llantwit Major collected the Medium Employer of the Year Award and Achieve Together, Cardiff was named Large Employer of the Year. Outstanding Individual of the Year was Denise Hodson, a playworker at Little Disciples Childcare, Penymynydd, Flintshire and Welsh Ambassador of the Year was Phoebe Wilson, lead training officer at Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids' Clubs, Cardiff. Practitioner of the Year was Elfed Wood, from Portal Training, Cardiff, the Employer Special Recognition Award went to The Grove, Narbeth and Kepak, Merthyr Tydfil was recognised for Outstanding Contribution to Apprenticeships. 'Among our winners and finalists are inspiring stories of personal growth and professional development,' said Faith O'Brien, Cambrian Training Company's managing director. 'This year's awards ceremony was a testament to the dedication, passion and hard work of our apprentices, employers and supporters. From the Apprentice of the Year awards to the recognition of outstanding employers and individuals, each accolade reflects the transformative power of apprenticeships in shaping careers and communities. 'Let's continue supporting and championing vocational education. Together, we can create a future where every individual has the opportunity to thrive through learning and development.' The other finalists were: Foundation Apprentice of the Year Award: Josh Williams, a receptionist at Whitbread Premier Inn, Bangor and Leanne Barratt, a chef at Mitchell & Butlers' Miller & Carter, Killay. Apprentice of the Year Award: Deanne Rance, area manager for Lonetree-McDonalds, Newport and Jodie Bowater, hotel manager Whitbread Premier Inn, Bangor. Higher Apprentice of the Year: Ashley Richards, general manager at Peppermint Cardiff and Keri-Ann Evans, head chef at Bluestone, Narberth. Outstanding Individual of the Year: Rachael Bowles, blending room team leader for Hilltop Honey, Newtown and Aaron Jones, a waiter at Penycae Inn, Penycae, near Swansea. Small Employer of the Year: Nazareth House, Cardiff and Interplay, Penlan, Swansea. Medium Employer of the Year: Voco St David's Cardiff and The Grove, Narberth. Large Employer of the Year: Kepak, Merthyr Tydfil and Urdd Gobaith Cymru. Welsh Language Ambassador: Catherine Smith, training officer at Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids' Clubs and Samantha James, restaurant manager at Millie & Sid's, Tywyn. Work-based Learning Practitioner: Sean Williams from Sirius Skills Consulting, Mountain Ash and Sarah Bird from Clybiau Plant Cymru, Cardiff.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cash for tourist firms to shelter visitors from rain
Tourist attractions in Wales could claim up to £20,000 of grant funding from the Welsh government to invest in "weather-proofing". The government said the scheme would help small or medium-sized businesses to invest in measures like canopies, improved car park surfaces or visitor shelters, as weather conditions become increasingly unpredictable. Data from Visit Wales showed 55% of businesses said poor weather was a reason for fewer visitors last summer. But a Bangor University economist questioned whether the £1m scheme would be enough to have an impact on the industry. £1.25 a night Welsh tourism tax may start in 2027 'Brutal' holiday let rules 'risk thousands of jobs' Tourism brings £3.8bn to the Welsh economy each year, according to the Welsh government. The weather-proofing scheme will run until 2026 and offer grants of between £5,000 and £20,000. Eligible businesses must be accredited visitor attractions under the Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme; be micro, small or medium-sized; and have been trading for at least one year as a limited company, partnership, sole trader or social enterprise. Dan yr Ogof, a 17km (10 mile) cave system in Swansea which attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year, hopes to apply for the grant. Ashford Price, chairman of the attraction, said he would use the money to build more shelters by the ticket office and at stations for the site's land train. "No umbrella in this world would weather-proof Wales," admitted Mr Price. But he hopes to find a way to help visitors enjoy the landscape without getting soaked. "The serious side is that when they're at an attraction they're paying a lot of money to see what is there," he said. "The important thing is Wales is doing something where the other regions are doing nothing. "If they know there's a kind of assurance that we've done our very best to look after them, even in the rain, I think that will get us some brownie points." He said he would like to see more money made available in the future but described the grant as "a good starting point". Andy Addis-Fuller from the Penycae Inn restaurant, in Swansea, said he hoped the business would also receive a grant. "With the climate the way it is and the downpours that we get, we need to start thinking outside the box with regard to what we do to keep people dry," he said. The team also runs a "micro zoo", has a separate building with rooms for staying guests and outdoor space for eating and drinking. "People like to use the space outside, it's a lovely space but if it really does start to beat down they've got nowhere to go, literally stood there thinking 'we're getting wet'," said Mr Addis-Fuller. He said they would use the funding to invest in more pergolas for the outdoor seating area or even a marquee. They would also look to invest in more heaters and heated rails, to benefit the walkers who visit. "Really in the last six months we've have quite a few storms which have really impacted the valley," said Mr Addis-Fuller. Dr Edward Thomas Jones, senior lecturer in economics at Bangor University said tourism "really contributes to economies in many areas" of Wales. "One of the issues that we hear a lot here is the impact that wet weather or any bad weather has on businesses," he added. "The concerns that I have is that the £1m fund that we're talking about, that that won't be sufficient to really have an impact on this industry." The cabinet secretary with responsibility for tourism, Rebecca Evans, said the fund was a result of listening to "the concerns of people working in the tourism attraction sector". "As the weather, which has carved out our impressive landscapes throughout history, becomes more and more unpredictable, it has been identified as the single biggest factor affecting visitor numbers to Welsh attractions," said Ms Evans. She said the fund would help businesses to "prepare for increasingly variable weather patterns" as well as extending the tourist season. Tourism tax 'risky economic move', says holiday let firm Wales fails to attract overseas tourists, MPs say Wales fails to attract overseas tourists, MPs say Year of Croeso: Weather-Proofing Fund for Tourism Attractions
BBC News
29-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Weather-proofing grants offered to tourism businesses in Wales
Tourist attractions in Wales could claim up to £20,000 of grant funding from the Welsh government to invest in "weather-proofing".The government said the scheme would help small or medium-sized businesses to invest in measures like canopies, improved car park surfaces or visitor shelters, as weather conditions become increasingly from Visit Wales showed 55% of businesses said poor weather was a reason for fewer visitors last a Bangor University economist questioned whether the £1m scheme would be enough to have an impact on the industry. Tourism brings £3.8bn to the Welsh economy each year, according to the Welsh weather-proofing scheme will run until 2026 and offer grants of between £5,000 and £20, businesses must be accredited visitor attractions under the Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme; be micro, small or medium-sized; and have been trading for at least one year as a limited company, partnership, sole trader or social enterprise. 'A kind of assurance' Dan yr Ogof, a 17km (10 mile) cave system in Swansea which attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year, hopes to apply for the Price, chairman of the attraction, said he would use the money to build more shelters by the ticket office and at stations for the site's land train."No umbrella in this world would weather-proof Wales," admitted Mr he hopes to find a way to help visitors enjoy the landscape without getting soaked. "The serious side is that when they're at an attraction they're paying a lot of money to see what is there," he said."The important thing is Wales is doing something where the other regions are doing nothing."If they know there's a kind of assurance that we've done our very best to look after them, even in the rain, I think that will get us some brownie points."He said he would like to see more money made available in the future but described the grant as "a good starting point".Andy Addis-Fuller from the Penycae Inn restaurant, in Swansea, said he hoped the business would also receive a grant."With the climate the way it is and the downpours that we get, we need to start thinking outside the box with regard to what we do to keep people dry," he team also runs a "micro zoo", has a separate building with rooms for staying guests and outdoor space for eating and drinking. "People like to use the space outside, it's a lovely space but if it really does start to beat down they've got nowhere to go, literally stood there thinking 'we're getting wet'," said Mr said they would use the funding to invest in more pergolas for the outdoor seating area or even a marquee. They would also look to invest in more heaters and heated rails, to benefit the walkers who visit. "Really in the last six months we've have quite a few storms which have really impacted the valley," said Mr Edward Thomas Jones, senior lecturer in economics at Bangor University said tourism "really contributes to economies in many areas" of Wales."One of the issues that we hear a lot here is the impact that wet weather or any bad weather has on businesses," he added."The concerns that I have is that the £1m fund that we're talking about, that that won't be sufficient to really have an impact on this industry." The cabinet secretary with responsibility for tourism, Rebecca Evans, said the fund was a result of listening to "the concerns of people working in the tourism attraction sector"."As the weather, which has carved out our impressive landscapes throughout history, becomes more and more unpredictable, it has been identified as the single biggest factor affecting visitor numbers to Welsh attractions," said Ms said the fund would help businesses to "prepare for increasingly variable weather patterns" as well as extending the tourist season.
