News

Learner wins award for multi-million docks overhaul

Published

9 years ago

June 22, 2016

Success: Melanie with Judith Evans, CollegesWales chair, Sarah John, NTfW interim chair, Huw Morris, the
Welsh Government’s director of skills, higher education and lifelong learning and compere Sian Lloyd

THE DOCKS and marina supervisor at the Port of Milford Haven was a proud winner at the Vocational Qualification (VQ) Awards for Wales.

Melanie Durney collected the VQ Learner of the Year Higher Level Award at the ceremony held at St David’s Hotel and Spa, Cardiff on Tuesday night, the eve of VQ Day. The awards are organised by the Welsh Government, the National Training Federation for Wales (NTfW) and ColegauCymru / CollegesWales.

“I am thrilled to win the award,” she said. “It’s not only a personal achievement but an achievement for the Port of Milford Haven as a whole. I would like to thank the Port of Milford Haven, my colleagues, Pembrokeshire College and everyone involved in the VQ Awards.

“This award shows that vocational qualifications are effective, help you to progress in the workplace and I hope it encourages others to do the same.”

Melanie strives to make things happen, fast. She drew on her background in business finance to fulfil a lifelong ambition and joined the Port of Milford Haven as docks administrator. Five years on, she and her team are heading up a multi-million pound regeneration project set to bring jobs, boost tourism and create a brighter economic future for her beloved home town.

Melanie’s professional progress has been meteoric. Before her Level 4 NVQ in Business and Administration was even complete, promotion to docks co-ordinator came calling and she went on to achieve a Level 5 NVQ in Management last December.

Melanie has gone from supervising a team of four to having line management duties for 15 staff, including personnel from the port’s commercial dock and marina staff. She also managed customer relationships during the installation of a new set of Lock Gates – a once in a decade project – and in 2015 became Manager of the Year after nomination from colleagues.

“The Port of Milford Haven has played such a huge part in the town’s history and growing up I knew lots of people working here and always wanted to be involved,” she said. “I’m really passionate about the changes taking place here and take them very seriously on behalf of my local community.

“Continuing my learning while working has ensured that I’m up-to-date on best practice and processes within the sector and, more importantly, able to bring much more into the role and the wider business.

“I want to progress in my career and learning will be a big part of that, whether on the job or through studies. It’s important to keep learning and adapting and vocational qualifications are one way of achieving that.”

Her next goal is to progress to a Higher Apprenticeship at NVQ Level 7 – postgraduate level – in management.

Crediting the support of her team, manager and Pembrokeshire College assessor Glenys Francis with her success to date, Melanie is now focused on providing vocational opportunities to other staff members. She is also committed to helping ensure plans set to create further economic and social advantages for the wider region become reality as soon as possible.

She was one of 10 finalists in VQ Awards, which celebrate the achievements of both learners and employers across Wales. There were two other finalists in her category, which recognises individuals who clearly demonstrate progression and excellence in vocational studies and have made considerable achievements in their field thanks to vocational qualifications.

Minister of Skills and Science Julie James congratulated the 10 finalists and praised everyone who had been nominated for the VQ Awards this year. “Vocational skills have a huge impact on the Welsh economy and we value the gold standard of vocational learning being delivered to people right across Wales,” she said.

“Both VQ Day and the VQ Awards provide the perfect opportunity for us to celebrate not only the high standard of technical, practical and vocational learning being delivered in Wales, but also the many personal successes and achievements of our learners.

“High quality VQs are essential to provide individuals and businesses with the skills, experience, motivation and inspiration they need to get ahead. Ultimately it is only with appropriately skilled and trained people that we can drive forward the Welsh economy.

“Many of our VQ Award finalists this year have demonstrated that they are marked out as future leaders or ambitious entrepreneurs and have an eye on making sound business decisions and increasing productivity.”

Now in their ninth year, the awards coincided with VQ Day on June 8, a celebration of the benefits and value of high quality technical, practical and vocational learning to individuals and to the economy. There were also awards for VQ Employer of the Year and VQ Learner of the Year Intermediate Level.

Charity

Call for Welsh charities to join new volunteering revolution

Published

24 minutes ago

June 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

New digital platform aims to boost volunteer numbers across Wales

CHARITIES of all sizes across Wales are being urged to sign up to a new digital volunteering platform designed to make it easier for people to give their time and support vital community causes.

Created by the Royal Voluntary Service, with funding from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, the platform will help connect charities with would-be volunteers in their local areas. It is free to use and aims to modernise how volunteering is accessed and managed.

Voluntary organisations across the country have struggled in recent years with declining volunteer numbers. But research by Royal Voluntary Service suggests this trend could be reversed. In Wales, 45% of people said they would be more likely to volunteer if they could do so flexibly via an app or online platform.

Motivation to contribute remains strong, with many citing a desire to support their local community as a key reason to volunteer. The new platform aims to tap into this enthusiasm by making it easier for people to find roles that suit their lifestyles.

Launching to the public this autumn, the platform will allow users to browse, filter and apply for volunteering roles with just a few clicks. In the meantime, charities can sign up and begin uploading roles from June onwards to test the platform.

It is hoped the platform will become a central hub for flexible, accessible and digitally enabled volunteering in Wales. Charities from all sectors—whether in sport, the arts, health, environmental work or animal welfare—are encouraged to register and offer a diverse range of roles.

Making opportunities inclusive and varied—from one-off remote roles to team-based or traditional placements—will help widen access to volunteering and inspire a new generation of community contributors.

As well as improving recruitment, the platform aims to reduce the administrative burden for charities. Volunteers will complete a one-time onboarding and identity check, enabling them to switch between roles and organisations without repeating basic steps. Free criminal record checks will also be introduced in future.

Catherine Johnstone CBE, Chief Executive of Royal Voluntary Service, said:

“We’ve developed this platform in partnership with charities large and small to ensure it’s genuinely useful across the board. By breaking down the barriers to volunteering, we’re helping more people fit it into their busy lives. Thanks to the support of People’s Postcode Lottery players, we’re on the brink of a volunteer revolution, and we want as many Welsh charities as possible to be part of it.”

Clara Govier, Managing Director at People’s Postcode Lottery, added:

“Volunteers are the lifeblood of so many charities. This platform will help new generations find opportunities that suit their lives—whether locally or online. We’re incredibly proud to support Royal Voluntary Service in delivering this initiative.”

Local charities have also welcomed the platform.
Damian Golden, Accessible Vehicle Co-ordinator for Pembrokeshire Association of Community Transport Organisations (PACTO), said:

“Volunteers are the heart of our community transport network. We’re hopeful this platform will help us connect with more passionate individuals and extend our reach across Pembrokeshire.”

The platform is free for charities and includes identity checks for volunteers. Organisations interested in registering or taking part in upcoming workshops and webinars can find out more at www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk.

Entertainment

Welsh National Theatre sets up home in Swansea

Published

3 hours ago

June 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Michael Sheen’s company to debut first production in the city next January

SWANSEA has been named the official home of the newly founded Welsh National Theatre.

The company, established earlier this year by actor and director MICHAEL SHEEN, will be headquartered at Swansea’s Civic Centre overlooking Swansea Bay — a symbolic location, connecting Welsh storytelling to both its roots and the wider world.

The company’s first production, Our Town, will premiere at the Swansea Grand Theatre from January 16 to 31, 2026, before touring Wales and concluding its run at the Rose Theatre in Kingston-upon-Thames. The production is directed by Swansea-born FRANCESCA GOODRIDGE, with fellow Swansea native RUSSELL T DAVIES serving as creative associate.

Sheen, who serves as artistic director, said: “My theatrical journey began in Swansea as a member of the West Glamorgan Youth Theatre, so it feels fitting to return and establish Welsh National Theatre here. Swansea is a place of creativity, resilience and inspiration. This isn’t just about securing office space — it’s about building a cultural hub for artists, producers and writers to collaborate and create before the work even reaches the stage.”

He added: “In just seven months, a Swansea audience will be the first in the world to experience a Welsh National Theatre production live. The countdown is truly on.”

Welsh National Theatre’s founding chief executive SHARON GILBURD praised the city’s support: “There’s a real sense of partnership here. Swansea Council has shown a genuine commitment to fostering a thriving cultural scene — not just for today, but for future generations.”

Following Our Town, Sheen will take to the stage once more in November 2026 to play Owain Glyndŵr in Owain & Henry, a new work by playwright GARY OWEN, produced in collaboration with the Wales Millennium Centre.

The decision to base the company in Swansea was welcomed by Council Leader ROB STEWART, who described it as “a proud moment for the city”.

“Having Welsh National Theatre based in Swansea shows how far we’ve come as a creative city,” he said. “This bold move will help raise the profile of Welsh storytelling globally and strengthen Swansea’s role as a national and international hub for creative talent.”

He added: “This will bring real opportunities for local actors, musicians, artists, writers, and technicians to be part of something world-class — and to create new work that’s rooted in Wales. The impact will be transformative.”

The move follows several months of discussions between the company and Swansea Council.

Cabinet Member for Culture, Human Rights and Equalities, ELLIOTT KING, said the theatre’s decision reflects years of sustained investment in the local arts sector.

“Swansea is now home to everything from major venues like the Swansea Arena to community-led theatre projects like Grand Ambition,” he said. “Our creative industries are flourishing, and with Welsh National Theatre joining that ecosystem, Swansea is well-positioned to make a lasting mark on the international stage.”

Charity

Call for Welsh charities to join new volunteering revolution

Published

6 hours ago

June 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

New digital platform aims to boost volunteer numbers across Wales

CHARITIES of all sizes across Wales are being urged to sign up to a new digital volunteering platform designed to make it easier for people to give their time and support vital community causes.

Catherine Johnstone CBE, Chief Executive of Royal Voluntary Service, said: “We’ve developed this platform in partnership with charities large and small to ensure it’s genuinely useful across the board. By breaking down the barriers to volunteering, we’re helping more people fit it into their busy lives. Thanks to the support of People’s Postcode Lottery players, we’re on the brink of a volunteer revolution, and we want as many Welsh charities as possible to be part of it.”

Clara Govier, Managing Director at People’s Postcode Lottery, added: “Volunteers are the lifeblood of so many charities. This platform will help new generations find opportunities that suit their lives—whether locally or online. We’re incredibly proud to support Royal Voluntary Service in delivering this initiative.”

Local charities have also welcomed the platform.

Damian Golden, Accessible Vehicle Co-ordinator for Pembrokeshire Association of Community Transport Organisations (PACTO), said: “Volunteers are the heart of our community transport network. We’re hopeful this platform will help us connect with more passionate individuals and extend our reach across Pembrokeshire.”