Productivity, sustainability and skills boosted through decarbonisation initiative

A GOVERNMENT-funded programme is helping businesses in Flintshire become more productive, sustainable and future-ready through cutting-edge support and innovation.

Delivered by AMRC Cymru, a leading research and development facility based in Broughton and part of the University of Sheffield, the initiative has already supported 32 local companies through a combination of tailored reports, training events and one-to-one assistance.

The scheme—Accelerating Decarbonisation and Productivity Technology and Skills (ADAPTS)—is backed by £811,000 from Flintshire’s share of the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). It aims to boost growth, reduce carbon emissions and create skilled employment across the county’s manufacturing sector.

Sixteen of the participating businesses also received in-depth support from AMRC Cymru engineers to implement new technologies, enhance workforce skills and address key areas for improvement identified in their initial assessments.

Among those to benefit was Biofortuna, a contract development and manufacturing organisation, which developed an automated solution to scale up a critical process—opening doors to new markets while maintaining high accuracy.

Chris McCarthy, development and manufacturing manager at Biofortuna, said:
“If we hadn’t partnered with AMRC Cymru, we would have had to invest a significant amount of time and resource into researching potential options—and even then, we may have ended up limited to off-the-shelf solutions.
ADAPTS gave us the opportunity to approach our challenge from a completely different angle. They developed bespoke solutions tailored specifically to our needs.”

Natalie Jones, project manager at AMRC Cymru, added:
“Seeing the difference the UKSPF-funded ADAPTS programme has made to Biofortuna’s productivity and precision is fantastic. I’m excited to watch how this new technology supports their ongoing growth.”

Reflecting on the wider impact of the scheme, she continued:
“We’ve achieved excellent results across a number of key performance areas—including adoption of new products and services, improved digital connectivity, increased efficiency, and reduced carbon emissions.
Given the nature and timescale of the work, the full impact of the programme will continue to unfold in the months and years ahead, especially in terms of job creation and retention.”

Councillor Chris Dolphin, Flintshire County Council’s cabinet member for economy, environment and climate, welcomed the scheme’s success:
“With UK manufacturers investing around £38.8 billion into the economy each year, it’s great to see the ADAPTS programme preparing Flintshire businesses for future growth.
I believe this investment will boost local resilience and, in the long term, help attract and retain talent in the county.”

Owners urged to keep chocolate and dried fruit out of paw’s reach

WITH Easter just around the corner, Dogs Trust is reminding pet owners to keep chocolate and other harmful foods away from their four-legged friends.

Both Dogs Trust Bridgend and Dogs Trust Cardiff are raising awareness of the dangers seasonal treats can pose to dogs, particularly chocolate and certain dried fruits, which are toxic and potentially fatal if ingested.

Chocolate contains theobromine, a chemical that dogs cannot metabolise effectively. Even small amounts can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive thirst, excitability, drooling and in severe cases, seizures or fatal heart problems.

Likewise, dried fruits including raisins, sultanas, currants and grapes can cause acute kidney failure in dogs. That means hot cross buns, Simnel cake, and other fruity Easter fare should be kept well away from canine companions.

If your dog eats any of these, the advice is clear: contact your vet immediately.

Dogs Trust’s Easter safety tips:

• Never feed dogs chocolate or dried fruits, and make sure children and visitors know the dangers too.
• During Easter egg hunts, keep dogs away from the area or supervise them closely on a lead.
• Secure your bins to prevent dogs from scavenging leftovers.
• Don’t leave treats on kitchen counters or low tables where curious paws can reach.
• Teach the “leave it” command, so your dog learns to walk away from harmful items.
• Watch out on walks – dogs can easily pick up discarded chocolate or fruit-filled snacks.

Victoria Phillips, Veterinary Surgeon Manager at Dogs Trust, said:
“Our dogs are part of the family, so it’s natural to want to include them in Easter celebrations. But while chocolate eggs and hot cross buns are treats for us, they can make dogs seriously ill – and in some cases, can be fatal.

“That doesn’t mean they have to miss out entirely. Why not plan a dog-friendly Easter hunt using safe, healthy treats such as carrots, strawberries, cucumber or broccoli?

“You could even hide toys or treats in empty Easter egg boxes and encourage your dog to sniff them out – it’s a great way to bond and keep them mentally stimulated.”

For more advice on keeping dogs safe and healthy over the holidays, visit: www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice

A MAN from Cwm Cou, Newcastle Emlyn has pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of a baby.

Rhydian Jamieson, aged 28, appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday (Apr 10), where he admitted to trying to kill the infant, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The offence took place at an address in Y Ferwig, near Cardigan, just before 10:15pm on Wednesday, January 15.

Police responded to reports concerning the welfare of a child, and the baby was taken straight to hospital.

Jamieson was arrested at the scene and later charged.

At an earlier hearing, concerns had been raised about whether he was fit to stand trial. A provisional date had been set for September 1, but this has now been cancelled following his guilty plea.

Judge Paul Thomas KC remanded Jamieson into custody and said he would be sentenced on May 27.

Caroline Rees KC appeared for the prosecution, with John Hipkin KC defending.