North Wales News

[SteveH]

Eight firms set to create North Wales jobs in 2023
From hospitality chains to nuclear companies these firms are set to bring jobs

The challenges facing businesses as we move into 2023 are numerous - but some firms still plan to expand job numbers across the region.

It has been a difficult three years with a global pandemic quickly followed by surging price rises that are affecting businesses and their customers.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/eight-firms-set-create-north-25756010?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Plans have been unveiled to make Wales a global centre of excellence and leader in the production of life-saving cancer-treating substances.

Radioisotopes are radioactive atoms used to diagnose and treat cancer.

The Welsh government said nuclear medicine in the UK, Europe and beyond will face a supply crisis by 2030 if nothing was done.

It wants the UK government and other partners to help fund the multi-million pound plan which could create 200 jobs.

The Welsh government wants to secure the supply of medical radioisotopes for Wales and the UK through the development of a project called the Advanced Radioisotope Technology for Health Utility Reactor (Arthur).

Based in Trawsfynydd, Gwynedd, the ?400m facility would be a public sector national laboratory with its own nuclear reactor, producing the medical radioisotopes for use in the NHS in Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Wales' Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said: "Our vision is the creation of project Arthur - a world-leading nuclear medicine facility, which will bring together a critical mass of nuclear science research, development and innovation.

"Through this development, not only can Wales become the leading place in the UK for medical radioisotope production - producing life-saving medical radioisotopes that are critical to cancer diagnosis and treatment

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-64212469

[SteveH]

Future of car-free transport in North Wales shown in dramatic maps
Hundreds of new walking and cycling paths are planned as motorists are encouraged to ditch their cars

Ambitious plans for new walking and cycling routes have been published by five of the six councils in North Wales. They show a massive rise of ?active travel? routes is on the cards as motorists are encouraged to leave behind their cars.

The Welsh Government hopes the new routes will persuade drivers to swap their cars for a ?healthier and more cost-effective commute? by walking or cycling to work. More than 2,000km of walking and cycling routes are already available across Wales but this figure will rise dramatically if all new routes are built as planned.

cont/map gallery  https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/future-car-free-transport-north-25941476

[SteveH]

Anglesey: 730 jobs at 2 Sisters at risk in chicken factory closure

Poultry giant 2 Sisters Food Group said the site in Llangefni, Anglesey, was old and would require significant investment to bring it up to the same standard as its other locations.

The firm also said Llangefni was one of its smallest sites and products could be made more efficiently elsewhere.

It added that it would speak with employees to explore the options before making final decisions on closure.

The company's chief executive Ronald Kers said 2 Sisters would try to find alternative work for everyone.

This would be with other local employers, or at its other sites including Sandycroft in Flintshire and Rogerstone, Newport.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-64397513

[SteveH]

Update..

Mark Drakeford hopes 2 Sisters can be persuaded to keep Anglesey site open
A total of 730 jobs are at risk after the firm announced plans to shut the Llangefni abattoir

Mark Drakeford said the Welsh Government would do what they could to try and persuade 2 Sisters to keep its Anglesey factory open. The firm announced yesterday that it was planning on closing the Llangefni factory, putting 730 jobs at risk.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/mark-drakeford-hopes-2-sisters-26079254

[SteveH]

Here we go again, I wonder what the odds are................

Billions of pounds could be generated by granting freeport status to two ports, say the campaign's backers.
The Celtic Freeport bid hopes to see the ports of Milford Haven and Port Talbot given the status, which would see relaxed tax and customs rules.

The Labour Senedd member for Aberavon, David Rees, said it "gives an opportunity to local people in Port Talbot and Pembrokeshire to gain from opportunities we haven't seen before".

The Celtic bid is competing with Holyhead and Cardiff airport, which are also promising massive job creation opportunities.

First Minister Mark Drakeford previously said that creating only a single Welsh freeport "is the expectation but two is not impossible and the quality of the bids will be pivotal".

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-64426667

[SteveH]

I wonder if they need somewhere to dump the dredged sand ................

A port has revealed major expansion plans to cater for the next generation of giant wind turbines. The Port of Mostyn in Flintshire has applied to Natural Resources Wales (NRW) for a marine licence to build a new 350-metre-long quay wall and reclaim 4.5 hectares of land behind it.

Dredging work would also be needed to create new berths for ships while deepening existing berths while the approach channel would have to be re-dredged. If the scheme gets the go-ahead, construction is expected to take around 21 months, depending on the weather.vealed major expansion plans to cater for the next generation of giant wind turbines. The Port of Mostyn in Flintshire has applied to Natural Resources Wales (NRW) for a marine licence to build a new 350-metre-long quay wall and reclaim 4.5 hectares of land behind it.

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/port-wants-reclaim-land-sea-26124415

[SteveH]

Cheese firm offers jobs to 2 Sisters workers facing redundancy after devastating closure decision
Staff at the soon to close factory in Llangefni may be able to find work at a plant in Gwynedd if they can make the commute
cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/cheese-firm-offers-jobs-2-26133475


Film studio opens on Anglesey to capitalise on spectacular North Wales locations
Aria Studios is a brand new 20,000 square foot facility with a fully soundproofed film and television studio
cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/film-studio-opens-anglesey-capitalise-26135491

[SteveH]

Airbus Broughton to get jobs boost as wing work to transfer from German factory
Additional equipping on the wings of the A330 family will move from Bremen to North Wales

This will see around 60 new roles created at the Flintshire plant, where more than 4,000 people work. As well boosting jobs it will reduce the number of wing movements in the assembly process.

A spokesperson for Airbus said: "We can confirm that a package of A330 wing equipping work will be transferred from Bremen to the Broughton plant in North Wales. The transfer will materialise in 2024/25 and entail 60 full time roles at Broughton.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/airbus-broughton-jobs-boost-wing-26230842

[SteveH]

Air India to buy 250 jets from Airbus in deal that will boost Broughton......... Further good news on top of the above article
The deal will include 210 A320 planes and 40 widebody aircraft

Which will see Rolls-Royce provide the engines for the A350 planes.

The wings will be designed in Filton, and assembled in Broughton. This is supporting the bounce back in production levels at the North Wales plant - where staff numbers fell from 6,000 to 4,000 over the pandemic.

Those numbers are starting to ramp up as the production rate increases and the factory will see the former giant A380 factory repurposed for A321 wing production.
cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/air-india-buy-250-jets-26234694



Valentine's Day roads' massacre a bridge too far for the people of North Wales
Scrapping the third Menai Crossing and the Deeside red route feels like the region's creaking transport network is being martyred to hit 'net zero' targets
cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/valentines-day-roads-massacre-bridge-26239666


Another story on NW roads .......
Welsh roads review ignored citizens, ex-Labour transport minister says
The announcement followed a year-long review, and prompted open criticism of the Welsh government from some Labour backbenchers.

Defending the decision on Tuesday, Mr Waters said Wales would not get to net-zero carbon emissions "unless we stop doing the same thing over and over".

"None of this is easy but neither is the alternative," he said.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-64640227

[SteveH]

The big questions hanging over one corner of Wales after years of 'body blows'
The island of Anglesey has been hit with a series of damaging blows including the collapse of major industry, Brexit, and failed projects promising thousands of jobs

Even considering Brexit and a global pandemic the Isle of Anglesey has faced tougher times than most in recent years. The island of around 70,000 residents off the north-west coast was once a thriving production hub with giants like Anglesey Aluminium, Octel, and Marco Cable employing thousands of people.

But economic changes, the collapse of previously-thriving industrial areas across the UK, Brexit, and Covid-19 have hit the island hard. Major employers have departed leading to thousands of job losses ? many of which have not been replaced. Brexit has created years of turmoil at the port of Holyhead ? once a focal point for freight and tourism traffic coming into the UK ? and in January poultry giant 2 Sisters announced it was proposing to close its factory in Llangefni which could see another 700 jobs lost.

cont https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/anglesey-future-economy-jobs-brexit-26251557?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Cunard Queen heads to Anglesey this summer as cruise ship tourism becomes 'big business' in Wales
More than half of the cruise ships docking in Wales this year will be in Holyhead - and next year looks even better

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/cunnard-queen-heads-anglesey-summer-26316021

[SteveH]

Historic Brexit deal over the Northern Ireland Protocol announced
Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford welcomed the deal between the UK Government and the EU

Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford said: "We welcome the new Northern Ireland deal. We hope it will ease the barriers to trade experienced at Welsh ports. It is also a step towards improved relationships between the UK and EU, which is in all our interests."
As long as Holyhead is given a fair hearing, and not the usual South before North Wales

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/historic-brexit-deal-over-northern-26345673

[SteveH]

Wynne Construction have a full order book with ?60m worth of schemes

A BODELWYDDAN-based construction firm is due to commence ?60m worth of schemes across Wales.

Wynne Construction's order book and number of employees continues to grow. The firm has a huge number of projects to work on which include the development of new schools, colleges, social housing and apartments within North Wales.

The company will also deliver major projects currently in progress within the region, including the ?10m design and build of the new Ysgol Corn Hir on the Isle of Anglesey and a ?5.5m disability respite centre in Colwyn Bay.

https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23353803.wynne-construction-full-order-book-60m-worth-schemes/

[SteveH]

Freight traffic from Holyhead to Dublin should be fast-tracked through green lanes if it is then going on to Northern Ireland(NI). That is the request from Stena Line to help the Anglesey port which has seen a chunk of its freight trade shift to direct routes between Great Britain and NI.

Prior to Brexit around 30% of goods sailing from Holyhead to Dublin then went on to Northern Ireland but this trade has been badly impacted by the UK's exit from the EU.

Now the Windsor Framework agreed between the UK Government and the EU will further ease restrictions on those GB-NI routes, with green lanes for goods destined for NI. These will not be subjected to the same checks as the red lanes for products going to the EU. If ratified this will put Holyhead at even more of a disadvantage.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/call-green-lanes-holyhead-dublin-26365760