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RWE unveils supplier initiative to unlock business opportunities from offshore wind

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RWE, Wales’ largest renewable energy generator, has unveiled an innovative approach to supplier engagement, as it looks to expand investment opportunities in renewable energy to a wider pool of UK businesses.

The developer’s dedicated approach to supplier engagement was launched at RWE’s Celtic Sea Supply Chain Engagement Day in Cardiff, where Stephen Crabb MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire and Vaughan Gething, Welsh Government Economy Minister also spoke.

The initiative, the Supplier Transparency & Engagement Programme (STEP), aims to maximise awareness of opportunities for businesses to support the growing offshore wind industry.

The programme will enable a greater understanding of supplier capabilities, while enabling co-operative working with suppliers to help solve key industry and supply chain challenges.

There are four initial activities that showcase a commitment to effective supplier engagement: new websites, an easy-to-use engagement platform with open search functionality and project updates, a full set of supplier engagement days, and the opportunity to arrange calls with project team members.

Danielle Lane, RWE’s Director of Development for UK and Ireland, said: “Floating wind is a new technology with huge opportunities and as such, businesses across south Wales and the south west of England have a real chance to place themselves right at the centre of the supply chain, for what is a multi-billion pound industry.

“RWE has been a major part of the UK’s offshore wind journey since the start, gathering significant experience across the development, construction and operations phases, in addition to supporting skills and training programmes.

“With a growing pipeline of floating projects globally, including unrivalled real-world experience via three separate demonstration projects , we are ready to bring that expertise to the Celtic Sea region.

“Combined with our long-standing presence in Wales as the country’s largest renewable energy generator where we employ over 300 staff Wales-wide, we also have the necessary resources to help put the region on the front foot.”

Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething, said: “We are ambitious for the floating offshore wind sector in Wales – we believe it has the potential to deliver sustainable sources of energy into the future and it is also a once-in-a-generation opportunity to open up new markets for local suppliers and to create thousands of high-quality jobs in Wales.

“Open dialogue and discussion is the only way forward to help us make the most of the opportunities on offer – ranging from cutting edge technology to the local everyday economy. I look forward to many more opportunities to engage as we unlock the exciting potential this new industry has to offer to our businesses and communities.”

Rt Hon Stephen Crabb MP, MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire and Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee, “I am delighted to support RWE’s Celtic Sea Supply Chain event. The deployment of floating wind in the Celtic Sea is a once in a generation multi-billion pound economic investment opportunity for Wales and the wider Celtic Sea region. It is essential that we maximise the investment, supply chain and job opportunities for our businesses and communities. RWE’s supply chain event today helps to build those crucial relationships and deepen understanding about how companies can prepare for this exciting opportunity.”

The STEP initiative builds on RWE’s approach to supplier engagement and furthers our global floating wind capability, which has been developing over the past four years. This has included multi-million pound engineering contracts and regular supplier outreach.

RWE’s Celtic Sea team has already been working closely with a number of potential key suppliers, including Tata Steel UK, ABP Port Talbot, Port of Milford Haven and Marine Power Systems.

The Crown Estate plans to allocate seabed rights in the Celtic Sea, estimated to be capable of generating four gigawatts of renewable energy by 2035, as part of a leasing round this autumn.

RWE is preparing to bid into the Crown Estate’s forthcoming Celtic Sea seabed leasing auction later this year, where up to 4GW of floating wind will be awarded, and many more gigawatts expected in the future.

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Rugby Weekly – Tenby’s promotion push continues

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It’s crunch time for all rugby clubs around the county, whether promotion is their aim or fighting relegation or even just trying to improve their league position, it’s now or never. 

Last weekend saw an important win for Fishguard in division two west which should put any relegation fears to bed completely. James Griffiths added an impressive 18 points for the Seagulls as they defeated Nantgaredig 33-19. 

Elsewhere in the second division, Milford were beaten 32-8 by a good Lampeter outfit. The Mariners are still a little too close for comfort with the drop zone but should have enough quality to see them safe. 

At the other end of the table Tenby sit in second place and have played fewer games than leaders St Clears and third place Lampeter. They won impressively again last weekend, beating Pontyberem 64-19 at Haywood Lane. Fletcher Broadhurst impressed with two tries as did Hywel Baker who also grabbed himself a brace. Another excellent performance in an outstanding season so far in which promotion would be the absolute icing on the cake. 

In Division Three West, Pembroke were well beaten by Laugharne 74-15 in which the outstanding Liam Price and Nico Setaro both crossed the whitewash 4 teams a piece. The latter also added 7 successful conversions. 

There was a local derby at Pill Parks where Llangwm hosted Pembroke Dock Quins and it was an exciting clash. The visitors won narrowly 28-23, Craig Barnett and Gethin Bradney both scored two tries for the Quins. The Wasps battled hard and will be proud of their performance, Gethin Thomas impressed for the hosts with two tries of his own but it wasn’t enough to secure the points. 

St David’s hosted the high flying Cardigan outfit and were unable to score in reply to the visitors 20 points, with it ending 20-0. The Saints however won’t be losing too much sleep over it as they have had a great season so far. 

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Stephen Crabb leads inquiry on retaining community bank services  

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PRESELI Pembrokeshire MP, and Chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee Stephen Crabb is leading an inquiry in Parliament that will investigate the closure of high street banks in Wales, as well as access to cash.

In November 2023, Pembrokeshire saw the closure of Lloyds Bank in St Davids, and in the coming months both Barclays Bank and Halifax in Haverfordwest are set to close. In recent years, Wales has experienced a rapid decline in the number of high street banking services available to the public. Already in 2024, 23 high street bank closures have been announced in Wales, while automated teller machines (ATMs) declined by nearly a quarter between 2018 and 2023.

The Committee willconsider how declining high street banking services are impacting vulnerable people and small businesses across Wales, who are often more reliant on cash than digital banking. It will also examine how Wales is being affected by the loss of high street bank services, and whether the problem is worse in Wales than other parts of the UK.

Mr Crabb is a staunch advocate for retaining community banking facilities, especially in rural communities like Pembrokeshire where many local branches remain the only source of face-to-face banking provision for miles.

Recently Mr Crabb challenged Barclays Bank senior management on their decision to close the bank branch in Haverfordwest– a move that will see Barclays not only pull out of the county town, but means they won’t have a branch left anywhere in Pembrokeshire. He has also engaged with LINK – the UK’s largest cash machine network – and continues to campaign on the basis that a Banking Hub is established and that ATM machines should be retained or installed, especially in areas worst affected by the closures.  

Following the launch of the inquiry, MP Crabb added: “It is really sad to see so many banks across Wales closing as online banking grows in popularity. Despite the advantages of online banking, for a rural community with an ageing population like Pembrokeshire, bank branches hold huge importance as they offer face-to-face customer service.”

“I am acutely aware of the inconvenience that the bank closures locally have already caused following hundreds of replies from constituents to my ‘online banking survey’ ”

“I am looking forward to gathering further evidence on this subject through the committee’s inquiry, and will continue to put pressure on the relevant stakeholders to ensure that adequate alternative provisions are made through the establishment of banking hubs as well as the instalment of ATM machines where necessary.”

“In this inquiry, we are particularly keen to hear from those likely to be directly affected by the shift away from cash and physical banks. I encourage anyone with first-hand experience of losing banking services to give evidence to the Committee”

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Trains resume between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock as works end

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TRAIN services resumed this morning (Thursday 28 March) after ten days of essential round-the-clock work to upgrade track and drainage between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock.

The railway was closed from Monday 18 March to Wednesday 27 March to allow Network Rail teams to replace more than 200 metres of track and 300 tonnes of ballast (track stones) between Pembroke station and Pembroke Dock.

Work to improve the drainage between Narbeth and Kilgetty stations was also completed at the same time.

Nick Millington, Network Rail Wales and Borders route director, said: “This essential work in Pembrokeshire demonstrates our commitment to improving the reliability of the service we provide to passengers along our route.

“We know that replacing the track can be disruptive and very noisy, so I would like to thank the residents of Pembroke for their patience while our team carried out this crucial work.”

Colin Lea, Planning and Performance Director at Transport for Wales said: “We’re pleased that our colleagues in Network Rail have completed this essential work and that Transport for Wales rail services resumed today.

“We’d like to thank passengers for their patience while this work has progressed and look forward to welcoming passengers back in time for the Easter weekend.”

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