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Dragon LNG triumphs at Welsh Business Awards

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Left to right: Marten Lewis and Karen Wood from Dragon LNG

DRAGON LNG is celebrating a win at the Welsh Business Awards, organised by the South and Mid Wales Chamber of Commerce.

The terminal at Waterston, Milford Haven, picked up an award for Excellence in Community Relations at the event, which was again held at the National Museum for Wales, Cardiff.

Dragon LNG has implemented a series of initiatives aimed at contributing to the Pembrokeshire community. In addition to working with numerous charitable organisations, it supports programmes and activities with pupils at Milford Haven schools, including building children’s confidence and presentation skills via drama workshops; funding their attendance at a marine and earth summer school in Southampton; sponsoring the Pembrokeshire apprenticeship scheme and running a graduate programme for local, national and international students interested in the oil and gas industry.

Since 2005, the company has also supported science, technology, engineering and maths education in all Pembrokeshire schools and Pembrokeshire College, organising outdoor activity and classroom sessions as well as guest talks from inspirational scientists.

“Winning the Excellence in Community Relations award means a great deal to Dragon LNG because it not only recognises our continued dedication to youth development and training in Pembrokeshire but also the hard work of our many project partners,” said Karen Wood of Dragon LNG.

“We know providing these opportunities widens horizons, and raises aspirations and expectations. Our ultimate aim is to develop the next generation in Pembrokeshire, to ensure they can prosper, no matter what their economic background.”

The 2016 awards, celebrating its 15th anniversary this year and sponsored by the University of South Wales, saw 35 businesses from a variety of sectors nominated for awards across 10 categories. The event was hosted by TV presenter Gethin Jones for the second time.

“Given how challenging 2016 has been for many of our businesses, with continued uncertainty surrounding the impact of Brexit, it was inspiring to celebrate so much success tonight,” said Heather Myers, director of the South and Mid Wales Chambers of Commerce.

“All 35 shortlisted businesses should be immensely proud of what they achieved in 2016, whether they left with a trophy or not. Their entrepreneurial spirit and never-say-die attitude have contributed to a more prosperous Wales and one that remains a firm contender in the global market.

“I’d like to thank the University of South Wales for sponsoring the event for another year, all of the category sponsors for their unyielding support, and everyone who worked so hard to ensure the evening was a triumph.”

Siwan Rees, director of USW Exchange at the University of South Wales, which sponsors the event, said: “We’re delighted to again support the Awards, and congratulate all of those who have either been shortlisted or go on to become winners.

“By focusing on increasing the SME contribution to the economy, developing students with relevant skills, and enhancing the status of the university as an institution for business, USW is a centre for collaboration and interaction, which builds links between industry and graduate talent.”

Secretary of State for Wales, Alun Cairns was a spokesperson at the awards. He said: “It’s because of the hard work and dedication of dynamic Welsh businesses, like those celebrated at the awards, that Wales has seen the fastest growth outside London since 2010.

“As a Government, we’re proud of supporting our job market. I’m delighted to say that there are 117,000 more private sector jobs in Wales than there were in 2010. These jobs have been created by the private sector, by entrepreneurs who take risks and have the drive to build businesses.

“I hope the Welsh business community continue to work together to ensure Wales remains a thriving location to do business.”

The winners of each category have the opportunity to progress to the British Chamber Awards when entries open in the Spring. Welsh businesses have traditionally performed well against UK-wide competition and a number have successfully secured a share of the prize money, which was £10,000 last year.

Business

Thousands of homes in rural Wales gain from faster 4G boost

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RURAL Wales is seeing a major upgrade in mobile connectivity, with faster 4G now live in several areas. Seven locations across North, South West, and West Wales are benefitting from new 4G mast upgrades funded by the UK Government’s Shared Rural Network (SRN), aimed at closing the digital gap between rural and urban areas.

The upgrades, which went live on Thursday (Nov 14), bring improved 4G coverage to communities including Bontddu, Llanelltyd, Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Penmaenpool, Tabor, Snowdonia National Park, and Bontgoch. Local businesses, emergency services, and residents are expected to benefit from faster internet access, which supports daily communication, business opportunities, and economic growth.

There is a £170 million agreement with Openreach to provide gigabit-capable broadband to 70,000 remote Welsh properties

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “Fast, reliable connectivity is essential for modern life and should be available from Cardiff to the remotest parts of Wales. Today’s upgrades bring us closer to making this a reality.”

SUPPORTING DIGITAL INCLUSION

As part of the rollout, Peter Kyle and Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant visited Ebbw Vale to discuss digital inclusion with charity and industry leaders. They met with representatives at BGfm, a digital inclusion hub in Blaenau Gwent, to learn about how connectivity impacts daily life in Welsh communities.

Telecoms Minister Bryant said: “We are working tirelessly to make sure rural communities aren’t left behind online.

“These upgrades mean businesses can now operate without connectivity limitations, 999 services are better equipped to respond, and residents and tourists can stay connected across the Welsh countryside.”

ADDRESSING CONNECTIVITY GAPS

An estimated 1.5 million homes across the UK remain without internet access, limiting people’s ability to access essential services such as banking and healthcare. In addition to the SRN upgrades, the Chancellor has allocated over £500 million in next year’s budget for digital infrastructure expansion, targeting these underserved areas.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens highlighted the importance of this investment, particularly for rural Wales, where fast, reliable internet can be transformative.

“Connectivity is critical for day-to-day life in rural areas – from supporting local businesses to ensuring emergency services are just a call away,” Stevens said.

The upgraded masts, previously limited to EE customers and emergency 999 calls, now serve a wider user base, bringing essential internet access to more people without requiring new infrastructure.

Ben Roome, CEO of Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited, said: “With the activation of five new SRN sites, Wales is seeing the tangible benefits of the Shared Rural Network, bringing crucial connectivity to rural communities.”

GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT IN REMOTE WALES

The improvements come alongside a £170 million agreement with Openreach to provide gigabit-capable broadband to 70,000 remote Welsh properties, helping future-proof digital access in even the most isolated locations.

The latest upgrades mark another step in the Government’s mission to improve mobile coverage and close the connectivity gap across Wales, creating opportunities and supporting economic growth across rural communities.

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Milford Haven man admits to downloading indecent images of children

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A MILFORD HAVEN man has been sentenced after admitting to downloading over 1,000 indecent images and videos of children, including highly explicit content involving young children. Gareth MacDonald, now 23, appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where he pleaded guilty to possessing indecent images and videos across various devices.

The court heard that police visited MacDonald’s home, which was the scene of protests after his arrest, last year following intelligence suggesting that child abuse images had been accessed there.

There were protests outside MacDonald’s house in September 2024 (Pic: Herald)

Officers spoke with MacDonald’s mother at the door before entering to conduct a search.

During the operation, two mobile phones, a tablet, a laptop, and two hard drives were seized.

MacDonald initially spoke to one of the officers privately, admitting to downloading the images and saying, “It’s me.” Later, in formal interviews, he revealed that he had grown “bored with legal pornography” roughly a year earlier, knowing that what he was doing was illegal but continuing regardless.

Prosecutor Emily Bennett informed the court that MacDonald’s devices held 15 Category A images, the most severe classification, 26 Category B images, and 960 Category C images. Some content depicted children as young as nine, and the most serious material involved pre-teen children in distressing situations.

Bennett also noted that MacDonald had briefly joined an online group where members self-identified as paedophiles, although he left without sharing any material. Cleaning software was also found on his devices.

Defense counsel Dan Griffiths acknowledged that MacDonald’s actions had crossed the custodial threshold, but argued that there was “a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.” He highlighted MacDonald’s cooperation with police and his willingness to comply with rehabilitation programmes.

Judge Geraint Walters, presiding over the sentencing, addressed MacDonald, saying, “For some considerable time, you have accessed this kind of imagery, fully aware of the harm it represents.” He acknowledged that MacDonald largely isolated himself and stayed at home, factors he considered in the sentencing.

MacDonald was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, with a requirement to complete 20 rehabilitation activity days and participate in the Horizon programme. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years and is subject to a sexual harm prevention order for the same duration.

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Welsh teenager jailed for creating 3D-printed gun at home

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A TEENAGER who assembled parts for a viable semi-automatic firearm using a 3D printer has been sentenced to nearly five years in prison.

Owain Roberts, 19, purchased nuts, bolts, steel barrels, and metal rods online, constructing components of an FGC-9 gun with the aid of a 3D printer.

Detectives said that this case marks the first of its kind in Gwent, where Roberts admitted to manufacturing a firearm component. He appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday (Nov 14).

In April, firearms officers executed warrants at two Newport addresses connected to Roberts. Seized items included a 3D printer, two laptops, six plastic reels, and parts for an FGC-9 firearm.

PC Tom Meazey, from Gwent Police’s East Serious Organised Crime team, stated: “Illegally-held firearms can lead to tragic consequences and devastate innocent people’s lives. To own a firearm, including a printable one, is illegal in the UK without a valid firearms certificate. Roberts’s reckless actions in buying items capable of manufacturing a firearm placed people at direct risk.”

This rare and complex investigation involved support from the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Roberts received a prison sentence of four years and nine months.

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