News

BT creates 190 broadband jobs

Published

12 years ago

May 30, 2014

BT is set to create an extra 190 engineering jobs in Wales as they look to roll out fibre optic broadband throughout the country. The telecommunications giant is looking to recruit in the Pembrokeshire area, especially Fishguard and Haverfordwest. They said they are also interested in recruiting in Cardigan and Carmarthen. BTs local network business Openreach has already made fibre broadband available to more than 19 million UK homes and businesses – some two thirds of the UK. Across the UK, Openreach expects to recruit 1,600 engineers. As more and more people rely on the internet, they have rising expectations of reliability. The new engineers will help Openreach to continue to improve customer service as it strives to install new lines and fix faults more quickly. Ann Beynon, BT director for Wales, said “Not only are we building a superfast broadband network, which is giving a major boost to Welsh households and businesses, we are creating highly skilled local jobs offering exciting careers, such as those announced today. “Working with our partners in the public sector we are determined to ensure that Wales is in the best position possible to take full advantage of the superfast broadband revolution.” Prime Minister David Cameron said: “Supporting business, creating jobs and providing a better future for hardworking people is a crucial part of our long-term economic plan. “So I am delighted that BT is launching this major recruitment drive for 1,600 engineers across the UK, providing financial security for families and delivering a world classinfrastructure for Britain.” BT has stated it expects a number of their engineering roles to be filled by ex-service men and women, and they are particularly interested in recruiting female engineers. Recruitment for the new roles is already underway in parts of the country, and people interested in applying for the posts should go to www.openreach.co.uk/careers Local MP, Stephen Crabb, has welcomed yesterday’s announcement that BT plan to recruit in Pembrokeshire as part of a UK-wide initiative to speed up the roll-out of superfast broadband. The recruitment drive will see 190 new jobs created in Wales, with both Haverfordwest and Fishguard identified as potential recruitment hot spots. Since the Superfast Cymru scheme began, more than 100,000 Welsh homes and businesses have been connected to superfast broadband. However, Stephen has raised concerns about the Welsh Government’s prioritisation of the roll-out, which seems to have left rural areas such as Pembrokeshire at the back of the queue. Although some parts of Pembrokeshire are due to be connected next month, many in the north of the County still have not received a roll-out date. It is hoped that taking on more engineers will speed up the process. Commenting on the announcement, Stephen said, “This announcement is good news for Pembrokeshire. I’ve consistently raised my concerns with both BT and the Welsh Government about the slow roll-out of the scheme in rural areas and I hope that taking on more local engineers will go some way to address this imbalance. In 2014 it is unacceptable for any area to be cut off from fast broadband and it is understandably a source of real frustration for many local businesses and families.” “I’m pleased that BT are addressing the issue as well as making a very welcome contribution to the skilled jobs market in Pembrokeshire.”

Community

Lauren Clewes begins trainee solicitor role at Eaton-Evans and Morris

Published

6 minutes ago

April 12, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Pembrokeshire law firm confirms internal promotion after Lauren joined the business as a paralegal in 2024

LAUREN CLEWES has been promoted to trainee solicitor at Eaton-Evans and Morris Solicitors.

Lauren joined the firm in 2024 as a paralegal, working first with Helen Hodges and later with Pauline Mainwaring. Over the coming months, she will work alongside the firm’s fee earners across all departments as part of her training.

Sean Dyer, one of the firm’s directors (pictured), offered his congratulations on her promotion.

News

Emergency response after person enters water at Milford Haven marina

Published

36 minutes ago

April 12, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Casualty recovered as police, coastguard and lifeboat crews attend

A MAJOR emergency response was launched at Milford Marina in Milford Haven on Sunday (Apr 12) after a person was reported to have entered the water.

Police, ambulance crews, HM Coastguard and lifeboat teams were called to the scene at Milford Docks shortly after 1:00pm.

The casualty was recovered from the water by emergency services. However, at the time of publication, their condition has not been confirmed.

Eyewitnesses described a significant multi-agency presence, with crews working together in a coordinated rescue operation.

The Herald understands that the incident prompted a rapid response from all emergency services in the area.

No further details have yet been released regarding the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Crime

Over 500 arrests at latest Palestine Action protest in London

Published

2 hours ago

April 12, 2026

Tom Sinclair

The Herald understands demonstrators from Pembrokeshire were among those in London as 523 people were detained at Trafalgar Square vigil

MORE than 500 people were arrested in Trafalgar Square on Saturday during a mass protest against the ban on Palestine Action, in what campaigners say has pushed the total number of arrests linked to the group’s proscription to more than 3,300 since July 2025.

The Herald understands that a number of those attending had travelled from Wales, including some protesters from Pembrokeshire.

The Metropolitan Police said 523 people were arrested during the demonstration, where protesters staged what organisers described as a silent vigil against the war in Gaza and the use of terrorism laws against pro-Palestinian activism.

Those detained were said to range in age from 18 to 87. Among those arrested was Robert Del Naja, the Massive Attack musician and artist, who was identified by national media as being among those detained during the protest.

The latest mass arrests come amid continuing legal and political controversy over the Government’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action under terrorism legislation.

The group was banned after activists broke into RAF Brize Norton in July 2025 and damaged military aircraft in protest at Britain’s support for Israel. The proscription came into force on July 5, 2025, making it a criminal offence to belong to the group or to express support for it.

However, in February this year, the High Court ruled that the ban was unlawful. Despite that decision, the proscription remains in force while the Government pursues an appeal, which is due to be heard later this month.

That legal uncertainty has fuelled criticism of the Metropolitan Police, which had initially indicated it would not arrest people simply for holding signs while the case remained unresolved. The force later reversed that position and resumed enforcement.

The handling of Saturday’s protest has drawn further scrutiny after former Metropolitan Police chief superintendent Dal Babu said the “optics” were “very challenging for the police” when faced with hundreds of peaceful demonstrators willing to be arrested.

Campaigners say the arrests raise serious questions about free speech, peaceful assembly and the practical enforcement of the law, particularly while the ban itself remains under appeal.

The protest was organised by Defend Our Juries, which said many of those detained were elderly or disabled and claimed the latest arrests showed the ban was becoming increasingly difficult to enforce consistently.

There was further controversy after reports that Devon and Cornwall Police did not make arrests at a similar protest in Truro on Friday, despite demonstrators there reportedly holding the same signs as those seen in London.

With the Court of Appeal due to hear the case on April 28 and 29, the latest arrests are likely to intensify pressure on both ministers and police over how far terrorism laws should be used in response to peaceful public protest.