£3.5m to safeguard and create jobs in Pembrokeshire

Two funds, worth £3.5m, to boost employment opportunities in Pembrokeshire in the wake of the collapse of the deal to sell the Murco Oil Refinery are now open.

Economy Minister Edwina Hart has told members of the Murco Task Force that the expression of interest phase of the Wales Economic Growth Fund opened on December 15.  This follows the first in a series of events arranged by the Murco Task Force, which has been established to support the Murco employees, contractors and businesses in the supply chain.

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Freudenberg Oil & Gas Technologies new premises With Welsh Government support of £3million, Freudenberg Group have invested over £11million in a move to new Freudenberg Oil & Gas Technologies premises, enabling them to increase the workforce. At the opening of the new premises, Edwina Hart, Minister of Economy, Science and Transport said “Freudenberg’s facility in Port Talbot is very impressive and is testament to the company’s commitment to, and investment in, the area and the workforce’s skills and dedication. I am delighted Welsh Government support has enabled the company to develop the facility and increase the workforce to nearly 300 employees. It is a signal of the company’s long term commitment to Port Talbot and its faith in Wales as a great place to do business.”  Read more

Tidal company strikes deal and wins award Tidal Energy Ltd (TEL), the developer of Wales’ first full-scale tidal power generator, DeltaStream, has announced an important deal with EDF Energy, marking a significant milestone in the commercial development of tidal power in the UK. Read more The pioneering tidal stream technology company has also recently received a major accolade in Renewable UK’s Wales Green Energy Awards in the ‘Supply Chain Development’ category. Read more

Renewables Apprentice of the Year The talents of a youngster from Powys have been recognised by the renewables industry at a glittering gala dinner held in Manchester. Ross Kenyon was crowned ‘Apprentice of the Year’ at the prestigious awards ceremony, which was organised by Renewables UK - the renewables industry body that recognises the brightest and the most outstanding from across the industry. Ross was shortlisted for the final along with two other apprentices from renowned sector leaders Mabbey Bridge and Siemens. Read more

“Green Champion” and awards galore At a prestigious awards ceremony, held at the Houses of Parliament on 10 November, GD Environmental picked up top prize ‘Green Champion’ in the Wales’ Environmental Best Practice awards category. Other accolades include being named as Wales’ Responsible Small Business of The Year, South Wales’ fastest growing waste management company and their Chief Executive winning ‘Young Director of The Year’ 2014 at the annual IoD Wales Director of The Year Awards. They were also a finalist in the national Best Energy from Waste initiative by demonstrating the environmental benefits of recovering waste destined for landfill and transforming it into a reusable fuel source, through the process and production of RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel). Read more

Winners of Insider’s Made in Wales Awards 2014

Amongst the winners of the Insider’s Made in Wales Awards, recently held at the Mercure Holland House Hotel in Cardiff, were SPTS Technologies which won the Green Manufacturer Award and Green Light Products, crowned Exporter of the Year.

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Winners of 2014 Wales Green Energy Awards

Over 180 people gathered in Cardiff Bay recently to celebrate the contribution of companies, projects and individuals at the 2014 Wales Green Energy Awards, organised by RenewableUK Cymru.  There were eight category winners, which represent the very best examples of green energy in Wales.

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Swansea DryDocks to recycle Navy frigate

Swansea DryDocks has won the MOD competition to recycle the former HMS Cornwall, a Type 22 frigate of the Royal Navy.

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£14m of funding available for Energy Catalyst

The Energy Catalyst has been established by Innovate UK, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to accelerate innovation in the energy sector. Up to £14m is available for the second round of the Catalyst to innovative businesses and researchers from any sector who can address the three major challenges facing the energy sector.  Two brokerage and information days are being held for innovators interested in applying for the competition.

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Manufacturing 100 lists Ledwood Protective Coatings

The latest Manufacturing 100, which ranks businesses by turnover has named Ledwood Protective Coatings as the fastest growing business on the list after boosting revenues by 157 per cent to £44.4m in the year to December 2012. It was also a new entry to the top 100, entering at number 49.

International Investment conference held in Wales

Following the NATO Summit in Wales in September, an invitation-only conference entitled ‘Embracing new technology for competitive advantage’ was held on 20 – 21 November at Celtic Manor, Newport.
The conference was attended by Prime Minister, David Cameron; First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones; Economy Minister, Edwina Hart and Secretary of State for Wales, Stephen Crabb and brought together 250 investors, business leaders and ministers. A wide variety of highly innovative Welsh technology was showcased, illustrating the R&D capability in Wales and raising its profile as a destination for inward investment. Hi-tech products included a James Bond-style high performance speedboat that transforms into a streamlined underwater submersible, developed by an Anglesey company, and the UK's first 3D printed metal bike frame from Cardiff. 

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