News

Self-employment event hailed a huge success

Published

3 years ago

June 6, 2018

FOR aspiring business people and entrepreneurs, on May 15 all roads led to Pembroke Dock Jobcentre for the Be Your Own Boss event.

Be Your Own Boss co-ordinator, Fred Hatton, an Employer Advisor with Jobcentreplus who worked with Hilary Vaughan, a Development Officer with PRIME Cymru – a charity Founded by HRH The Prince of Wales and the only organisation in Wales dedicated to providing practical support to people aged 50 and over who want to become and remain economically active – spoke after the event.

He said: “The concept of Be Your Own Boss is a multi-agency approach highlighting all the free help and support that is available for people who are looking to start their own business and take the first steps into self-employment and for existing businesses looking to expand.”

The event featured over 20 organisations and local businesses who were kept busy all day talking to the potential entrepreneurs who attended.

The Deputy Mayor of Pembroke Dock, Cllr George Manning, attended to see what excellent support was being offered in Pembrokeshire in order to support the Government’s initiative to encourage and support all ages to move forward their ideas of running their own business.

“We do not want people to start their own business without talking to the experts,” he said.

“That is when businesses fail. It is really good to come here and talk to the representatives of the organisations here present and I have learned a great deal. They all seem to have been extremely busy especially Business Wales who had a bit of a queue. Excellent work from you all. I am proud to be part of this community that cares for the future of our residents.”

Speaking on behalf of the team at Pembroke Dock Jobcentre, Fred Hatton said: “We would like to thank everyone who took part and who attended our Be Your Own Boss event. It was fantastic to meet so many partners and providers who can offer such excellent support to those seeking Self Employment. It was a great opportunity for our staff to meet them to enable them to advise our customers on what support is available locally.

“We were pleased by the public attendance on the day and it was lovely to meet so many people who would not normally come into our office. Our office truly felt like a community hub on the day, working in partnership with others for the benefit of our community at its best.”

Hilary of PRIME Cymru added: “After previous Be Your Own Boss events across South Wales we have seen a number of businesses starting up after accessing the help and support that was on offer, we are confident that we will see this repeated in Pembrokeshire.”

Many businesses can be very easy to start and operate, for example, more and more self-employed people are running successful businesses from home, these days. Small businesses can easily be fitted around other commitments, making self-employment the flexible option for so many people.

Jobcentreplus used social media to advertise the event and articles appeared in the local press. Social media is a tool that more and more businesses are using as an effective and economical way of publicising their products and services.

After the event Hilary commented: “The hard work starts now. All the organisations will be meeting up with the potential business people they met on the day and working towards turning their dreams, hopes and aspirations into reality.”

For people who were not able to make it on the day, or did not have a chance to visit all the organisations, there is an electronic version of the event directory available, with contact details and brief details of what services are available.

Please email Hilary for a copy: hilary@primecymru.co.uk

Alternatively, you can pop into the Pembroke Dock Jobcentre during normal opening times and pick up a copy.

News

Judith Rhead murder investigation – Detectives given more time to question suspect

Published

9 hours ago

February 24, 2021

Thomas Sinclair

POLICE have been given more time to question a 43-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder.

The man has been in police custody since Saturday night, after being arrested over the death 68-year-old Judith Rhead.

She was found in a residential property in Market Street.

The police now have until Thursday afternoon (Feb 25) to question the suspect.

News

All people eligible for vaccination will get theirs by end of July

Published

13 hours ago

February 24, 2021

James Hemingray

PEOPLE eligible for the coronavirus vaccine will get theirs by the end of July, the Health Minister has said.

Wales achieved its target of getting everyone in the first four priority groups vaccinated by the middle of February and is now working on offering the vaccine to those in groups 5 to 9.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has set out that people with severe or profound learning disabilities or with a mental illness will be among priority group 6.

Mr Gething said that they were would make sure that no one is left behind.

The latest figures from Public Health Wales show that 878,506 people had received their first dose of the vaccine.

59,279 people have received both doses of the vaccine.

Vaughan Gething, Minister for Health and Social Services, said: “We have achieved our first milestone of offering everyone in the first four priority groups vaccination by mid-February.

“We are now making progress in achieving our next milestone, which is to offer the vaccine to all individuals in priority groups 5 to 9.

“The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has set out that people with a severe/profound learning disability and individuals with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, or any mental illness that causes severe functional impairment, should be invited for vaccination as part of priority group 6.

“There are challenges with identifying individuals within these groups, particularly given the JCVI language is not generally in use in Wales, and we are working hard to make sure that no one is left behind. Today we have published guidance on identifying eligible individuals in these groups and on how to support them to take up their vaccine offers.

“The JCVI has also said that some of our invaluable unpaid carers should be included in priority group 6.

“Today we have also published guidance on identifying those unpaid carers eligible for vaccine prioritisation and the process around this. I am grateful to the national carers’ organisations for their support with this work.”

News

Council want your help to keep Pembrokeshire active

Published

16 hours ago

February 24, 2021

Andy Chandler

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL is asking residents to give their views on local walking and cycling routes.

The Council aims to make journeys on foot and by bicycle easier, safer and more enjoyable for everyone.

In order to design a network that works for all, the Council would like to get the views of as many people as possible, particularly those who don’t currently walk or cycle. This will help ensure the routes built for walking and cycling work for the whole community.

The consultation focuses on the main towns and villages in Pembrokeshire which have been selected by Welsh Government as the designated localities in the County. These are:

Fishguard & Goodwick
Haverfordwest
Johnston
Milford Haven
Neyland
Pembroke Dock
Pembroke
Tenby
Saundersfoot
Narberth

Pembrokeshire Council is currently undertaking an Active Travel Network Map consultation (ATNM) which will run in 3 stages

Consultation 1: Residents can take part in the consultation exercise online, hosted by Commonplace at https://Pembrokeshire.commonplace.is/

The interactive map allows participants to flag issues, problems and successes on a plan of the active travel settlement and add comments. Such points could be for example, a pavement that is too narrow or a newly built cycle route that is regarded as a success.

The first stage of the consultation will close on 31 st March 2021.

Consultation 2: Following this, the second step of the consultation will see the Council share the initial findings and ask people what they think of the plans
proposed as a result of the feedback received.

Consultation 3: The third stage of the consultation will give members of the public a final say on the Active Travel Network Maps before they are sent to Welsh Government for approval. These maps will have been produced taking into account public feedback and ideas from consultations 1 and 2.

By upgrading facilities and creating new walking and cycling routes, the Council plans to make Active Travel the popular choice for local journeys, to increase the attractiveness of local communities as places to live and work, improve health and well-being, and help tackle air pollution.

Cllr Phil Baker, Pembrokeshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, said: “This consultation exercise will produce an Active Travel Network Map which will be a plan of routes the Council will use to inform where improvements to walking and cycling should be made in Pembrokeshire.

“It will help to make journeys on foot or by bicycle easier and safer for everyone, particularly those who don’t currently walk or cycle often and people who use mobility aids and will build on the increased level of walking and cycling that we have seen over the last 12 months during the pandemic.”

See more information on Active Travel at: https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/fitness-and-well-being/active-travel