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Business News Wales
24-06-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Business Barometer Reveals Urgent Need for Skills Planning in Wales
A new report from The Open University reveals a growing disconnect between Welsh employers and the next generation of workers — one that could be preventing employers from addressing the country's persistent skills shortages. The 'Business Barometer: Skills for today and tomorrow: how employers can plan for future skills', is a survey of over 2,000 UK organisation leaders and 1,000 Gen Z adults. In Wales, 139 organisation leaders and 80 Gen Z adults (under the age of 25) were surveyed and reported that more than half (58%) of organisations are currently experiencing a skills shortage, the highest of all UK nations. At the same time, only a third (31%) of those Welsh organisations have specific initiatives in place to recruit, retain or train under-25s. Over half (54%) of Gen Z respondents in Wales are aware of the country's skills challenges and are factoring that into their career thinking — but they may not be receiving the guidance or support they need to become truly work-ready: 73% are considering careers based on where skills are most needed 66% would stay longer with an employer that offers training and development This gap in expectations is particularly stark at a time when digital, AI and sustainability skills are increasingly essential. While over half of Gen Z (58%) are already working in or interested in AI, 20% of Welsh employers say they're not confident they can deliver their AI strategies due to talent constraints. Dr Scott McKenzie, Assistant Director, Learning, Skills and Innovation at The Open University in Wales, said: 'The data is clear: there's a mismatch between employer intentions and practical action. But there's also a real opportunity here. Welsh employers can start by building structured skills plans, work with education providers invest in flexible training, and opening up opportunities to more diverse talent. The organisations who act now — who take learning seriously, at every level — will be the ones who will thrive in the years ahead.' Baroness Martha Lane Fox CBE, Chancellor at The Open University added: 'Employers have an incredible opportunity — and responsibility — to shape the future workforce. The talent is out there. Young people are motivated, they're digitally savvy, and they want to contribute. But they need clear training pathways, practical support, and employers willing to invest. 'While there are economic challenges at this moment for employers, the smartest organisations won't just wait for skills to arrive — they'll build them, inclusively and proactively, to fuel growth and resilience.' While global headlines have amplified political division over ED&I policies, the report reveals continued support for inclusion in the UK. The data shows that 80% of employers in Wales say ED&I is important to their organisation while 42% believe it will become even more important over the next five years. However, 25% have no initiatives in place for underrepresented or disadvantaged groups, including returners, career changers, and workers with disabilities or neurodiversities. This presents a missed opportunity to widen the talent pipeline and reduce economic inactivity — particularly in sectors and areas facing acute workforce shortages. The Business Barometer has tracked the skills shortage for nearly a decade and while the proportion of employers facing a skills shortage has stabilised since last year, the issue remains widespread across sectors and regions. The skills gap remains one of the most pressing issues for organisations in Wales, with nearly a third (38%) expecting it to worsen over the next five years. Among those currently affected, Welsh organisations report: Recruitment and training is more difficult due to the increase in national insurance (54%), increase in the minimum wage (56%) and economic uncertainty (72%) 60% report increased workload on other staff 43% cite reduced productivity 37% say they've scaled back growth or expansion plans 20% lack confidence in delivering their AI plans over the next five years Despite this, fewer than half of Welsh employers (36%) have a formal skills plan in place and even though the data shows training boosts retention, 30% of organisations say they hesitate to train staff for fear they'll leave. To find out more how employers can address the organisation skills shortage visit The Open University Business Barometer 2025
South Wales Argus
24-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Wales facing UK's highest skills shortages, says report
This is according to the latest Open University Business Barometer, which found that 58 per cent of organisations in Wales are struggling to fill roles. Despite this, only 31 per cent have schemes in place to recruit, retain or train workers under 25. Dr Scott McKenzie, assistant director of learning, skills and innovation at The Open University in Wales, said: "The data is clear: there's a mismatch between employer intentions and practical action. "But there's also a real opportunity here. "Welsh employers can start by building structured skills plans, work with education providers, invest in flexible training, and opening up opportunities to more diverse talent. "The organisations who act now – who take learning seriously, at every level – will be the ones who will thrive in the years ahead." The report highlights a generational disconnect, with 54 per cent of Gen Z respondents in Wales aware of the skills gap, but lacking guidance to become work-ready. Baroness Martha Lane Fox, chancellor at The Open University, said: "Employers have an incredible opportunity – and responsibility – to shape the future workforce. "The talent is out there. "Young people are motivated, they're digitally savvy, and they want to contribute. "But they need clear training pathways, practical support, and employers willing to invest." Although 80 per cent of Welsh employers say ED&I is important, a quarter have no initiatives for underrepresented groups. The report underscores the need for better planning and investment in training to address long-term workforce challenges.
Otago Daily Times
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Southland to host World Ploughing Champs
Forming an organising committee to run the 2029 World Ploughing Championship on the Dillons' property in Riversdale are New Zealand Ploughing Association member and landowner Mark Dillon, of Riversdale (left) and chairman Scott McKenzie, of Clinton. PHOTO: SHAWN MCAVINUE For the first time, Southland will host the World Ploughing Championship. Thousands of people are expected to descend on the small rural town of Riversdale for the 74th world event in autumn 2029. New Zealand Ploughing Association chairman Scott McKenzie, of Clinton, said other parts of the country bid to host the event, but Riversdale won because it could guarantee land, owned by association member Mark Dillon, and that was a huge advantage. The competition would run over two days in either March or April, when the weather was usually more settled. A date would be selected which did not clash with any other major rural events to give it the best chance of attracting a big crowd, and organisers were hoping to attract "thousands". Competitors would compete in either the conventional or reversible classes, working grass one day and stubble the next. The committee would offer competitors and their supporters a package of up to 10 days, including practice days on the competition grounds and a tour of the South. "It's pretty exciting and it's good to showcase our own bit of homeland," Mr McKenzie said. Some teams would arrive up to a month before the competition to prepare for the event and learn the lie of the land. International competitors would practise on private land, as soil types were diverse around the world, to increase their chances by reducing any home ground advantage. He was calling for expressions of interest from individuals or groups keen to help organise the event. "It will be a fairly substantial event and there could be up to 30-odd countries come, so there'll be a bit of logistics involved and quite a lot of accommodation." Up to 400 officials would take part and he estimated the event would require about 8000 bed nights. New Zealand had hosted the event four times before: Lincoln in 1967 and 1980, Outram in 1994 and Methven in 2010.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Biosecurity Product Targets $3.2B Avian Influenza Crisis:
Enviro Tech Secures EPA Registration for PeraGuard® AH to Combat Avian Influenza* Patented Granular Formulation Expands Your Zone of Protection MODESTO, CALIFORNIA / / March 11, 2025 / Enviro Tech, an Arxada company, has achieved an important milestone that can help alleviate the impact of Avian Influenza. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted a label amendment for PeraGuard® AH (EPA Reg. No. 63838-32), permitting label claims on surfaces against Avian Influenza and other animal viruses. This breakthrough positions PeraGuard® AH as a vital tool in the fight against Avian influenza, a disease that has devastated poultry operations nationwide. The Devastating Cost of Avian Influenza Since 2022, the USDA reports more than 150 million chickens and turkeys have been lost to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the United States. The loss of laying hens has contributed to an increase in egg prices of 52% since last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, underscoring the urgent need for new, more effective sanitation solutions. PeraGuard® AH rises to this challenge with its newly expanded label, which includes claims for entryway boot sanitization, general disinfection, and virucidal efficacy against Avian Influenza and other pathogens. This patented dry peracetic acid (PAA) formulation strengthens environmental biosecurity in high-risk areas such as entryways, foot pans, and high-traffic zones. "PeraGuard® AH is not just another solution - it empowers producers to take further steps toward advancing their biosecurity sanitation goals," said Dr. Scott McKenzie, head of tech services, Animal Health North America for Arxada. "PeraGuard® AH's ability to combat Avian Influenza directly on surfaces addresses one of the most pressing challenges facing livestock producers today. Establishing a 'zone of protection' at the entryways helps reduce the risk of cross-contamination and supports the biosecurity of entire operations." How PeraGuard® AH Works PeraGuard® AH is engineered with patented controlled-release chemistry that activates upon contact with water. Its concentrated, odorless, and dustless granules cling to boots and shoes, spreading protection throughout barns and facilities. This innovative formulation provides effective disinfection against: Viruses: Avian Influenza A (H3N2), Infectious Laryngotracheitis Virus, Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Bacteria: Salmonella, Staphylococcus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa To learn more about how PeraGuard® AH works - download our infographic A Critical Line of Defense The amended EPA registration of PeraGuard® AH for efficacy against Avian Influenza comes at a crucial time as concerns grow about cross-species transmission from poultry to cattle and other livestock. PeraGuard® AH has already demonstrated its effectiveness in food manufacturing and processing facilities. Its extension into livestock operations advances biosecurity practices across industries. "The poultry industry has suffered costly losses due to HPAI (High Pathogenic Avian Infection), and new, proven solutions for addressing this challenge are welcome," McKenzie said. "PeraGuard® AH is genuinely a game-changer in its effectiveness and versatility. With these new label claims, we are eager to show producers what this innovative new product can do to mitigate Avian Influenza on every part of the farm." With producers nationwide fighting to protect their flocks from Avian Influenza's devastating reach, PeraGuard® AH delivers a new solution through proven scientific excellence. Availability PeraGuard® AH is available through animal health distributors nationwide. To learn more about this groundbreaking formulation or locate a distributor near you, visit Enviro Tech's website or contact your local sales representative. About Enviro Tech Enviro Tech - an Arxada company - is a leading manufacturer and supplier of innovative peroxyacetic acid formulations, delivering wide-ranging solutions that optimize operational efficiencies for keeping food and water safe and environments clean. Enviro Tech provides a complete line of EPA- and FDA-authorized products for a variety of industries, including industrial water treatment, meat and poultry processing, food & beverage, agriculture, animal health, oil & gas, wastewater treatment, and more. Enviro Tech holds 41 EPA registrations, 15 FDA Food Contact Notifications, and 14 U.S. patents. About Arxada Arxada is a global science-based specialty ingredients business creating innovative chemistry and solutions. With customers in more than 100 countries, it achieved sales of CHF 2.0 billion in 2023. The company aims to solve the world's toughest preservation challenges by enhancing sustainability with cleaner, greener solutions. Arxada focuses on multiple end-markets, primarily in: Human Health & Nutrition, Home & Personal Care, Paints & Coatings and Wood Protection, providing a broad portfolio of differentiated products and solutions, supported by its science and innovation capabilities, in-depth regulatory know-how and track record in manufacturing and process development. Headquartered in Basel (Switzerland), the company's 3,400 employees contribute to the success of its customers, spanning 24 production sites and 14 R&D centers. To learn more about Arxada, please visit: and Arxada on LinkedIn *PeraGuard® AH is approved for disinfection on hard, non-porous, non-food contact surfaces. See product label for full usage instructions. Use biocides safely. Review and follow all product label and safety instructions. All product information corresponds to Arxada's knowledge on the subject at the date of publication, but Arxada makes no warranty as to its accuracy or completeness and Arxada assumes no obligation to update it. Product information is intended for use by recipients experienced and knowledgeable in the field, who are capable of and responsible for independently determining the suitability of ingredients for intended uses and to ensure their compliance with applicable law. All trademarks belong to Arxada or its affiliates. © 2025 Arxada. Media Contacts: Jane +1 612-209-9162 David Hlavacdavid@ SOURCE: Enviro Tech, an Arxada Company View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Sign in to access your portfolio
