Four workmates who help produce millions of Pot Noodle snacks every year are celebrating a Lotto win of £101,269 after matching five numbers and the bonus ball in last Saturday’s Lotto draw. 

The pals are part of the workforce at Unilever’s Pot Noodle production plant in Crumlin, near Ebbw Vale in South Wales.

Rob Bailey, leader of the syndicate, said: “We’re still shaking with shock! It’s a thrill to win something like this as a group.

“Our friends and workmates have been really pleased for us; in these hard times around £25,000 each comes as a big boost.

“It’ll make life a little more comfortable for us all. A couple of us are looking at changing cars, one will probably upgrade his caravan and one will get new windows for the house.”

The quartet, all fathers, have been together as a syndicate for just over a year. They always play four lines in the Wednesday and Saturday night Lotto draws.

Aged from 40-59, they are all production operatives with Pot Noodle. They live near the plant in the communities of Blackwood and Cwm.

Rob said: “I watched Saturday’s Lotto draw on TV and couldn’t believe it when five numbers and the bonus ball came up.

“I phoned my brother Dean but didn’t have the others’ numbers so I told them the next day.

“I couldn’t sleep on Saturday night – I only managed half an hour before starting a 12-hour shift at the Pot Noodle factory. I don’t know how I got through that – it must have been the adrenalin rushing.”

This is by far their biggest win and they intend to continue playing.

The winning ticket was bought at a convenience store in Canning Street, Cwm.  Rob’s syndicate colleagues are his brother Dean, Steve Stinton and Alan Dodd.

The Acorn Group has promised to raise £20,000 for 20 regional charities during its 20th year in its aptly named ‘20:20:20’ promise.

Founded in Newport in 1992, the Acorn Group has firmly established itself as an industry leader with 35 branches across the UK and more than 850 clients. In 2007 Acorn acquired west country recruitment company Concept Staffing and North West agency Advance Personnel. It further expanded the business in 2009 taking over London-based engineering and technical recruitment specialist Exxell, and again in 2010 with the purchase of South Wales-based Draig Peronnel. This year will see the group’s biggest growth plans yet as it launches into the Australian, African and Asian markets with its new Acorn Global brand.

Matt Southall, Managing Director Acorn Group

All 272 members of staff across the UK branches will work together in their regions to raise £1,000 for each charity they have chosen to support. The staff will be responsible for organising fundraising activity throughout the year to hit their targets.

Acorn’s founder and Managing Director Matt Southall said: “As a business we have always considered that the communities we live and work within deserve our support, and our staff have proved to be more than willing to get involved in providing just that.

“But what we have also found is that the business itself has benefited from helping others. Our staff use some of their charity activities in team-building and as personal development opportunities.

“In fact having their efforts redirected periodically to concentrate on fundraising and community support often encourages a fresh outlook on daily operations and customer service activities.

“This year is a special year for the Acorn Group, as we celebrate our 20th birthday – and what better way to mark the occasion than to share it with the people in the communities where we work. The 20:20:20 campaign helps to demonstrate precisely the type of relationship we have with local people and organisations up and down the country, and our staff are delighted to be further engaged in this way.”

You can keep up to date with Acorn’s 20:20:20 fundraising efforts by following them on Facebook (Acorn Recruitment) and Twitter (@acorn_jobs).

‘Made in Wales’ will focus on forging a better level of understanding between the higher education  sector and employers in terms of what each can positively contribute to a learning partnership.

The partnership has been forged through the university’s Centre for Work Based Learning (CWBL).  Cardiff Metropolitan University is the only university in the region to boast such a centre and through it provides a comprehensive professional accreditation service.

Other services include design and accreditation of work-based learning, business consultancy, business training and courses as well as Applied Professional Practice degree programmes.

Speaking about this latest initiative, CWBL manager, Dr Peter Treadwell said:

“Investment in workforce development and adult skills is increasingly accepted as essential to the growth of a sustainable Welsh economy and if challenging workforce targets are to be met, then more mutually responsive relations have to develop between business and higher education.

“Partnerships such as the one we have forged with Stratum will help provide relevant learning for employers and employees, delivered in a mutually agreed, flexible way and within an appropriate timescale.

“The real strength of university-led training is the emphasis on the development of intellectual and personal skills and the flexibility of work-based learning means that the learner will apply their new ideas and skills directly to the workplace.  The option for ongoing development is a massive bonus in this relationship – this is not about quick fix training but long-term development which can only prove of benefit to all.”

If you are interested in finding out more about how Made in Wales could work for your business, CWBL in partnership with Stratum will be hosting a roundtable discussion at the Cardiff School of Management at Cardiff Metropolitan University on Wednesday 18th April.  Sponsored by the CBI, the event is free and will take place from 12-2pm.  For further information, please contact Jen Evans on 029 2020 1559

Newly established Cardiff Cruises will go where no other sightseeing tour operator has gone before, past the Barrage and in to the Bristol Channel.

The 90 minute excursion will leave Europe’s largest waterfront development before heading out to sea, weather permitting, past Penarth Pier and towards Flatholm Island. It will then make its return back to Mermaid’s Quay taking in the Cardiff skyline.

With the ability to carry up to 200 passengers each trip, the ship has the largest capacity of all the tourist carriers operating from the Bay and will also be the longest, heaviest and tallest when it is launched on 7 April.

Cardiff Cruises managing director Martyn Driscoll said: “The launch of Cardiff Cruises is really exciting for us. Not only will it open up a whole new sailing experience for visitors who are usually confined to the harbour, but the ship itself, because of its size and magnitude, will become a recognised icon in the Bay.”

Mr Driscoll is the youngest passenger boat operator in the whole of the UK and experienced in running sightseeing tours having established Cardiff’s party boat company HMS69 in 2008.

The business has gone on to hold more than 300 parties including a 75th retirement party and a passing out ceremony for ordained vicars, and has catered for over 14,000 people.

Mr Driscoll said: “We always have such positive feedback from our evening cruise guests and are constantly being asked if we run a day time service. Now we have the new ship we are able to fulfil this need as well as offering something completely different to what’s already out there.”

Cardiff Cruises has yet to name Cardiff Bay’s newest and biggest vessel and is asking locals to suggest monikers or vote from a list on the company’s website www.cardiffcruises.com/vote. Early favourites include Shirley Bassey, Charlotte Church and Alex Jones. Everyone who votes will be entered in to a prize draw to win a party onboard the ship worth more than £5,000.

The new sightseeing tour will be officially named at its launch on Saturday 7 April. The trip will run from April to October at 11am, 1pm and 3pm each day. For further information see www.cardiffcruises.com

The ex-Glamorgan and England cricket captain takes on the role following the death of former President Gordon Jones in September 2011. Tony was a long time, close friend of Gordon’s and it was he who encouraged Gordon to set up a new Wales region in 1979. Tony has been an Honorary Life Member of the charity for over forty years.

Tony said: “I am honoured to follow Gordon who made such a wonderful contribution both as Chairman and President.

“Now I have retired from the globetrotting world of writing and broadcasting I am thrilled to be able to offer my support to Ed Meggitt who is chairing the Taverners in Wales with all the drive and ambition of his predecessors.”

Tony Lewis, in 1969, captained Glamorgan to the club’s second County Championship. In 1972 he became the first Glamorgan player to lead a major England tour abroad, to India, Ceylon and Pakistan, and still remains the last cricketer to captain his country on a Test match debut. In that match, in New Delhi, he scored 70 not out against the all-conquering Indian spin attack to lead England to a first victory on the subcontinent for over twenty years.

His work for cricket and for Wales has been outstanding. After his playing days he has served Glamorgan cricket as Chairman, President and Trustee; served eight years as Chairman of the Wales Tourist Board; chaired the Welsh National Opera for three years, and for two years chaired the successful Wales Ryder Cup bid 2010.

He has long been a familiar figure at Lord’s, where the Lord’s Taverners were first born in 1950, the most notable of his contributions being as Millennium President 1998-2000. During this time he opened the iconic Media Centre and welcomed women to full membership for the first time in the Club’s 211 year history. Thereafter, as Chairman of Cricket he led MCC into a more active role in the country’s cricket and followed up by creating and chairing MCC’s World Cricket Committee – a group of cricket legends chosen from all Test-playing countries that speaks out fearlessly if any international decision is motivated by race, religion or money – for five years (2006-11).

Tony Lewis was recently in receipt of the highest honour that can be awarded by the MCC Committee for services to the game of cricket, that of Honorary Life Vice President, becoming only the 31st elected in the history of the Club.

The Lord’s Taverners Wales chairman, Ed Meggitt, said of the appointment: “It is an honour and privilege to have someone of Tony’s calibre and stature to accept our offer of becoming President. His experience, skills and contacts will provide valuable assistance to not only the work that we do for the Taverners in Wales, but also throughout the UK.”

The Lord’s Taverners is the UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports charity. Money raised goes towards funding specially adapted minibuses, sports wheelchairs and cricket bags for schools. The Wales Region’s fundraising events include an annual golf day at Royal Porthcawl and the ever popular Christmas lunches.

Held at the Towers Hotel in Swansea, guests were treated to a three course meal followed by entertainment, featuring appearances from very special guest male models, including Wales and Ospreys players.

Peter’s supported the event with a donation of exclusive limited edition slogan t-shirts, which went down a storm with Adam himself.

The Ospreys, Wales and British Lions star was as integral part of Wales’ recent Grand Slam victory in the 6Nations tournament, and also lays claim to the rare achievement of being two of only six Welsh players since World War Two to have played in three Grand Slam campaigns.

The recent fashion show is part of a series of events for Adam Jones’ testimonial year, and will be followed by a Race Day at Fos Las Race Course on May 9th.

Speaking about the testimonial year, Marketing Controller Clare Morgan said: “Here at Peter’s we are delighted to be able to join Adam at this event to celebrate his testimonial year and of course help raise money for the nominated charity St David’s Hospice Care.”

Part of Ludlow Orbis Education, Sully-based, Beechwood College is Wales’ first and only specialist residential College dedicated to providing Further Education for students over the age of 16 who have Autistic Spectrum Condition or Asperger’s Syndrome.

Alun Cairns MP with Darren Jackson

 
Birch will add a new dimension to the college – with 18 additional bedrooms taking the number of students – both residential and day students – that can be catered for to a total of 66.

With an integrated approach to learning, involving the active participation of education, clinical and residential teams, Beechwood College students’ personalised education programmes are delivered within a 24-hour learning environment, developing formal education alongside life-long learning.

The college is dedicated to achieving a totally inclusive learning environment, providing opportunities and experiences for each individual, regardless of ability – and fully preparing them for later life.

The opening of Birch will further boost the college’s facilities for students, with the addition of large new activity and sensory rooms, as well as a new curriculum kitchen.

Speaking as he officially opened this new phase, Alun Cairns MP said:

“I first visited Beechwood College six months ago and was truly inspired by what I saw.

“The quality of education and life skills that young people acquire here is truly exceptional and makes a huge difference to the lives of both the individuals concerned and also their families.

“The great thing is that with this new extension to the college, even more young people are set to benefit from the great services it provides.

“This is a specialist area of support and it needs to be championed if we are to achieve a level of integration and acceptance that can only benefit society as a whole.

“I’m delighted to be able to lend my support to the work of Beechwood College, and its new phase, Birch and very much look forward to being a part of its future.”

Alun Cairns MP with Darren Jackson

Ludlow Orbis Education Principal, Darren Jackson added:

“It’s so pleasing for the team here to see the vision for Beechwood College continue to grow and I can’t thank the staff enough for their tireless efforts to promote the best learning opportunities for our students.

“Enough praise cannot be given to the hugely talented and very special young people who attend our college – we owe it to them to continue to be creative in coming up with educational packages that really suit their needs, with the long-term vision to empower them to make a valuable contribution to society.

“It’s wonderful to see the dream of Birch realised – it’s a fantastic facility from which many students of the future are set to benefit.”

The chairman of the Institute of Directors in the South West said: “Business needs more roads. Congested routes place a massive burden on enterprise; we urgently need to ease the bottlenecks.

“I welcome the Prime Minister’s plans to bring in private money to finance new road construction.

“However, it’s vital to get the detail right. If tolls are only introduced on new road schemes that are not already funded, Mr Cameron will have the backing of around 60% of IoD members.”  

In a speech today to the Institution of Civil Engineers, David Cameron said that he had asked the Department for Transport and the Treasury to carry out a feasibility study of new road financing models, including tolls to finance the construction of new roads and giving road maintenance contracts to the private sector.

As the players bid for Grand Slam glory, students and academics at the university’s Cardiff School of Sport will be rooting for former Masters students Rhys Long, Rhodri Bown and Andrew Hughes.

The talented trio form Warren Gatland’s performance analysis team, giving instant matchday tactical feedback to the coaches and in-depth post-match video analysis. All have an MSc in performance analysis from Cardiff Met.

Millions

Rhys and Rhodri, who initially secured a sport and PE degree at the university, are regularly seen by millions of TV viewers as they sit in the stands with the Wales coaches, processing live TV footage on laptops equipped with high-tech software.

Dean of Cardiff School of Sport Dave Cobner said: “Rhys, Rhodri and Andrew are an integral part of the Wales coaching team, making each TV camera an extra pair of eyes with which to plan matchday tactics and pre-match training strategies.

“They aim to ensure that Warren Gatland, Rob Howley and their colleagues don’t miss a trick.

Response

“One aspect they would have worked on earlier in this year’s 6 Nations will have been a response to the team tackling that Scotland carried out on Jamie Roberts as he tried to make ground in the middle.

“Subsequent games saw a lot more use in that area of Alex Cuthbert and George North – and that proved successful.”

The analysts advise coaches on the attacking and defensive qualities of the opposition, studying recent games, and on the backs and forwards tactics that Wales could use most beneficially.

Preparations

This allows Gatland to refine his bespoke pre-match preparations and for the players to focus closely on key elements.

The analysts’ view of France will be a crucial factor in Wales’ Grand Slam bid.

Dave Cobner said: “Cardiff Met is probably Europe’s most successful university in terms of producing high-grade sports performance analysts.

Services

“We’re very proud of the services that we offer and the professionals that we produce. In professional sport, coaching teams tell analysts what key performance indicators they’re looking for and the analysts offer relevant feedback and, through video, provide visual stimuli to players and coaches.

“The process has come a long way in a short time; when we started performance analysis around 20 years ago it seemed like it was done on a couple of video screens in a broom cupboard!”

His school’s performance analysis expertise is harnessed by a range of professional sport teams. It’s pivotal to Welsh regional rugby, in the Welsh Premiership and has been central to coaching at international level with the likes of England, Scotland, Fiji, Russia, the USA and Canada.

Biogs source: WRU website

Rhys Long was appointed as Head of Performance Analysis for the Welsh Rugby Union in August 2007. The former London Wasps’ Technical Analyst joined Rhodri Bown and Andrew Hughes to form a three-man analysis team supporting not only the Wales National Team but the entire elite performance structure in Wales, from national age grade sides to Sevens and elite referees. Long, a former Welsh Schools No.8 and player at Bridgend before suffering a neck injury, graduated in Sports Science at UWIC in 2003 before taking an MSc in Performance Analysis and joining London Wasps in 2005. While at Wasps, Rhys was part of the management team that took the side to the inaugural Anglo-Welsh Powergen Cup final victory and the Heineken Cup final win over Leicester Tigers in May 2007.

Rhodri Bown has worked with the Wales National Squad as Notational Analyst since 2004. Bown is part of a three-man analysis team, along with Rhys Long and Andrew Hughes, supporting not only the Wales National Team but the entire elite performance structure in Wales, from national age grade sides to Sevens and elite referees.

Andrew Hughes is part of the three-man analysis team with the Wales squad. He graduated from John Moores University Liverpool in 2003 having studied Exercise Physiology. He then took up an MSc in Performance Analysis in 2005. He has been with the Welsh Rugby Union since 2006. He attended Coleg Sir Gar and played rugby for Nant Conwy.

Web links

Cardiff School of Sport

WRU management team

Experts in leadership, banking and entrepreneurship will debate the economy before a Welsh business audience next week.

Panel experts will be Graeme Leach (pictured), chief economist and policy director of at the Institute of Directors, Allan Griffiths, South and West Wales director of Lloyds TSB Commercial, and Brian Morgan, Professor of Entrepreneurship with the Cardiff School of Management at Cardiff Metropolitan University.

They will address IoD Wales members and guests over lunch at the Marriott Hotel, Cardiff, on Thursday, March 15. Debate: The Economy – Where Do We Go From Here?

Lively

IoD Wales director Robert Lloyd Griffiths said: “I expect a lively discussion. It’s great to have Graeme as guest speaker; he regularly leads the way in forecasting business and economic trends and activity.

“Allan and Brian, similarly, are hugely respected practitioners.”

Graeme Leach is a frequent media commentator and conference speaker on matters that affect the economy.

Specialist

The IoD Wales March 15 event is sponsored by Cardiff Met. The debate will be chaired by PR specialist Alastair Milburn, managing director of Cardiff-based Effective Communication.

Details: IoD Wales Spring Lunch, March 15, Noon-2.30pm, Marriott Hotel, Cardiff. More: Click.