Business
Edwards Coaches named top company
EDWARDS COACHES of Llantwit Fardre in south Wales have recently been listed in the top 300 Welsh Companies. In a list compiled by Cardiff Metropolitan University, with support from Creditsafe and published by Wales Online, the list looks at the top 300 companies who are based across Wales. Edwards Coaches comes in at number 200 on the list, an impressive achievement for a family run company, now in its fifth generation of ownership.
The recognition of this achievement adds to what is an already impressive year for awards at Edwards Coaches.Having won 17 awards throughout 2015, it really has been a special 90th anniversary for the company. Edwards Coaches Ltd established in 1925 and are celebrating 90 years in business this year. They operate 210 coaches daily and employ 470 local staff, transporting 7,149 children to school daily and taking 80,000 coach holiday passengers for a much-needed break throughout the year.
Going into 2016, Edwards Coaches are looking forward to their 91st year of operating, running trips across the UK & Europe. Highlights include transporting Welsh Football fans to the Euro 2016 Football tournament and being a part of Her Majesty the Queens 90th Birthday celebrations at the Royal Albert Hall in London. At the ceremony, Edwards Coaches won the following awards:
• UK Property Awards 2015 – TGL Property “Commercial Renovation/ Redevelopment” Portbyhan Hotel
• National Express Engineering Audit – Gold Status
• Sunday Times Profit Track 100 – Ranking 29 on the annual league table of Britain’s private companies with the fastest growing profits
• TripAdvisor, “Portbyhan Hotel” – Certificate of Excellence
• Group Travel Awards, Winner – ‘Best Coach Operator for Groups’
• Silver Travel Advisor Awards, Nominated – ‘Best Coach Operator’
• National Coach Tourism Awards, Winner – ‘Tour Operator of the Year- Large Fleet’
• National Coach Tourism Awards, Winner – ‘Professional of the Year – Alan Clough’
• National Coach Tourism Awards, Winner – ‘Driver of the Year – Glyn Bowden’
• National Coach Tourism Awards, Winner – ‘Portbyhan Hotel – Individual Hotel of the Year’
• National Coach Tourism Awards, Finalist – ‘Holiday Programme of the year’
• UK Coach Awards 2015, Winner – ‘Top Large Fleet Operator’
• UK Coach Rally 2015, Winner – ‘Welsh Coach of The Year’
• National Express Awards 2015, Winner – “UK Driver’s of the Year” – Brent Humphries and Gerwyn Roberts
• National Express Awards 2015, Winner – ‘Operator of the year 16+ vehicles’
• National Express Awards 2015, Winner – ‘High Achiever Award – Recognising Long Term Performance Above Standard’
• Accor Hotels UK 2015, Winner – ‘Partnership Achievement Award’
Business
Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure
PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.
The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.
The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.
A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”
Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.
Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.
From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.
Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.
(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)
Business
52 homes to be built in Roch as scheme gets final sign-off
THE FINAL stage of approval for a near-£10m Pembrokeshire residential development of 52 homes has been given the go-ahead.
Back in April, members of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee backed an application by Wakefield Pembrokeshire Ltd for the development, which includes four one-bed affordable housing units, on land near Pilgrims Way, Roch.
18 objections to the scheme were received, raising concerns including an “inadequate” affordable housing level, it being a high density development for a rural area, a loss of green space, the size of some of the homes, and pressures on existing services and facilities, and fears it may lead to an increase in second homes.
Nolton & Roch Community Land Trust (N&RCLT) has raised its concerns about a lack of affordable homes at the development, calling for a 20 per cent affordable homes element, as recommended by policy.
An officer report for members, recommending conditional approval, said: “It is apparent that the proposed development is not fully policy compliant, insofar as it cannot deliver the indicative 20 per cent affordable housing sought [by policy].
“However, a substantial positive social impact will arise through the provision of housing, including four one-bed affordable housing units, in meeting identified needs for both market and affordable housing.
“Financial obligations identified to mitigate adverse impacts arising from the proposed development cannot be met in full. However, [policy] acknowledges that in such circumstances contributions may be prioritised on the basis of the individual circumstances of each case.”
Speaking at the meeting, agent Gethin Beynon said the project had a “significant economic value” of around £10m, and the local applicant had “a sense of stewardship to the local community,” offering affordable housing and community infrastructure towards highways and education.
Approval was delegated to the council’s head of planning to approve the application, subject to the completion of a Section 106 planning obligation, making community financial contributions.
The Section 106 agreement was recently agreed, with the application now formally approved.
Business
World of engineering and welding SPARCs interest in Ysgol Harri Tudur’s female learners
AN EVENT hosted by Ledwood Engineering gave girls from Year 8 and 9 at Ysgol Harri Tudur first-hand experience of the world of engineering recently.
Engineering is a booming sector in Pembrokeshire with a high demand for skilled workers in exciting career pathways associated with the development of low carbon and renewable energy industry and the Celtic Freeport.
The young women heard from industry experts on the importance of engineering in Pembrokeshire, and had hands on experience using a welding simulator, at the company’s Pembroke Dock site.
The learners are part of the County’s SPARC (Sustainable Power and Renewable Construction) initiative aimed as inspiring and empowering young females to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) pathways where females are under-represented in the workforce.
SPARC is funded through an alliance comprising Blue Gem Wind, Ledwood Engineering, Port of Milford Haven, RWE Renewables, Pembrokeshire County Council, Pembrokeshire College and the Swansea Bay City Deal.
Mrs Laura Buckingham, SPARC practitioner at Ysgol Harri Tudur said: “Our learners had a fantastic experience at Ledwood Engineering. They were given lots of advice by industry experts on the different career options and pathways within the engineering sector.
“They appreciated the opportunity to ask their questions and found the session very informative. Having the chance to trial their welding skills on the simulator was an experience they continue to talk about and has definitely piqued their interest.”
Poppy Sawyer, Year 8 SPARC learner added: ‘It was a really good trip. Talking to the different people there has helped me know more about the jobs we could get which will be very useful when making choices for my future.”
“They helped us a lot by giving us lots of information. We were able to look around and try welding. It was really fun,” added Tianna Marshall, Year 8 SPARC learner.
The Regional Learning and Skills Partnership also launched its Explore Engineering interactive website at the event.
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