First Wales trailblazer launched as part of UK Government’s ‘Get Britain Working’ plan

A MAJOR £10 million boost to employment support in Wales has been announced as part of the UK Government’s drive to tackle economic inactivity and “Get Britain Working” again.

The first trailblazer programme in Wales, launched in Denbighshire on Monday (Apr 21), will roll out new tailored employment support including one-to-one mentoring, counselling, wellbeing services, and health condition management.

The programme was launched jointly by UK Minister for Employment Alison McGovern and Welsh Government Minister for Culture, Skills and Social Partnership Jack Sargeant, marking a shift away from a ‘one size fits all’ approach in favour of support targeted to local needs.

The investment will help people with CV writing, job searching, mental health, and managing health issues that may be holding them back from employment. The trailblazer areas – Denbighshire, Blaenau Gwent, and Neath Port Talbot – were selected for their high levels of economic inactivity and will be among nine areas across the UK to pilot these reforms.

During their visit to Working Denbighshire, both Ministers met Work Coaches and saw first-hand the services being offered under the new scheme.

Minister for Employment Alison McGovern said: “Everyone deserves to thrive, including those living with long-term health conditions.

“No one will be written off. This £10 million investment will help connect health and employment services and deliver real change under our Plan for Change.

“Good work provides both dignity and security, and this trailblazer will help people across Wales access that support.”

Welsh Government Minister Jack Sargeant added:

“This investment is an important step in our joint approach to supporting people back into good employment.

“By integrating health and employment support, and tailoring it to each community’s needs, we aim to provide truly joined-up services.

“The Welsh Government is committed to ensuring no one is left behind.”

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said:

“This £10 million trailblazer will deliver support where it’s most needed – in Blaenau Gwent, Denbighshire, and Neath Port Talbot.

“We know this targeted approach works and builds on the success of initiatives like the Young Person’s Guarantee.

“Helping people into work improves physical and mental health and raises living standards.”

The trailblazers are part of the UK Government’s wider £240 million Get Britain Working reforms, which include:

Transforming Jobcentres to focus on skills and careers

Guaranteeing young people the chance to earn or learn

Expanding mental health support to help people stay in work

The Wales trailblazer follows the first scheme launched earlier this month in South Yorkshire, which focuses on supporting employers to hire people with health conditions. Upcoming trailblazers will also launch in Greater Manchester, the North East, York and North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, and three areas in London.

In parallel with the trailblazer initiative, the UK Government has also:

Increased the National Living Wage and Minimum Wage

Introduced the Employment Rights Bill to create more secure jobs

Committed to deeper devolution, supporting local and devolved governments to boost regional growth

The investment into Wales reflects the Prime Minister’s pledge to reset relationships with devolved administrations and empower them to play a leading role in economic growth under the UK’s Plan for Change.

THE MULTI-AGENCY group set up to deal with ongoing issues at Withyhedge landfill has now been stood down.

The Incident Management Team (IMT), made up of Natural Resources Wales (NRW), Pembrokeshire County Council, Public Health Wales, and Hywel Dda University Health Board, was formed earlier this year to coordinate the response to widespread complaints about odours and gas from the site near Haverfordwest.

The landfill had temporarily closed in May 2023 before reopening in January 2024, after NRW confirmed that necessary compliance measures were in place.

Now, with reports of odour significantly reduced and pollution levels staying below World Health Organisation (WHO) thresholds, NRW has confirmed that the IMT is no longer required.

In line with the improved conditions, a dedicated reporting system for odour and gas complaints has also been wound down. However, residents can still raise concerns through NRW’s standard incident reporting process, either online or by calling 0300 065 3000.

Independent monitoring of air quality will continue for at least another year, funded by site operators RML. Pembrokeshire County Council will continue to review this data to ensure accuracy and public transparency.

The static air quality monitor installed at Spittal School will remain in place until April 2026, with weekly results still shared with the council. However, Public Health Wales has said it will no longer routinely review the data.

Between January and March, the monitor recorded hydrogen sulphide levels above WHO’s odour annoyance limit on 13 occasions—all on a single day. No further breaches were recorded in the following seven weeks. Other monitoring in the area has not found any exceedances of either short-term or long-term hydrogen sulphide guidelines.

Public Health Wales said: “We are reassured that the air quality data does not suggest an ongoing risk to public health. With complaints now significantly reduced, we will no longer review the data regularly.”

NRW said it will continue unannounced inspections at the landfill to ensure the site remains compliant with its environmental permit. Its investigation into previous breaches is still ongoing.

The site operator, RML, has applied to vary the conditions of its permit, and NRW has confirmed that a public consultation will be held before any decision is made.

All agencies involved in the former incident response group said they will continue to share relevant updates with one another where necessary.

New home and garden retailer takes over former Homebase site

A MAJOR new retail store is set to open in Haverfordwest this week, bringing a fresh option for shoppers and garden enthusiasts alike.

The Range, a popular UK home, leisure, and garden chain, will officially open its new store at Springfield Retail Park on Fishguard Road on Friday (Apr 25). The store has taken over the former Homebase unit, which closed its doors in March last year after a clearance sale emptied its shelves.

The Pembrokeshire store is one of more than 50 former Homebase locations being transformed by The Range’s parent company, CDS (Superstores International), as part of a national expansion. CDS acquired around 70 sites across the UK and Ireland, aiming to safeguard approximately 1,600 jobs following Homebase’s financial collapse.

Customers in Haverfordwest can expect a wide selection of products across homeware, DIY, and seasonal gardening, with the store also boasting a new Homebase-branded garden centre.

The Range has confirmed that the new Haverfordwest branch will be a dog-friendly store, with special offers on opening day including free goody bags for the first 50 customers through the door – and even treats for the first five dogs to visit.

“We’re excited to welcome shoppers to our newest store,” said a spokesperson for The Range. “Come and explore a wide range of products, exclusive offers, and the brand-new Homebase Garden Centre.”

Although social media posts suggest an official opening time of 9:00am on Friday, the store is expected to open its doors slightly earlier at 8:30am. Opening hours for the weekend are listed as 8:30am to 8:00pm on both Friday and Saturday, and 1:30pm to 4:30pm on Sunday (Apr 27).

Regular hours have yet to be confirmed, but are expected to be similar to The Range’s Carmarthen store, which opens from 8:00am to 8:00pm Monday to Saturday, and 10:30am to 4:30pm on Sundays.