 Rebecca Evans AM is hoping to see Gower business scoop up awards in the National Tourism Awards for Wales. The Awards, hosted by Visit Wales, celebrate the very best of the tourism industry - showcasing Wales' tourism businesses and celebrating the industry's achievements. Rebecca Evans AM, Assembly Member for Gower, said: “Gower boasts some of the best businesses in the tourism industry. The quality of our tourism offer is well known and I would love to see local people's hard work celebrated and recognised. "With categories including Best Self-Catering, Best Activity, Best Place to Eat and the Tourism Business Innovation Award, there are plenty of opportunities for businesses in Gower to shine." Find out more at: www.businesswales.gov.wales The awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, 8 March 2018 and nominations are being invited in a range of categories:
 Saturday 2nd December is Small Business Saturday, and Gower's Rebecca Evans AM and Tonia Antoniazzi MP are encouraging residents to 'shop local.'
Small Business Saturday is a grassroots, campaign, which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses in their communities. The day itself takes place on the first shopping Saturday in December each year, but the campaign aims to have a lasting impact on small businesses. Tonia Antoniazzi MP said: "Shopping locally makes good economic sense. Research on spending shows that for every £1 spent with a small or medium-sized business 63p stays in the local economy, compared to 40p with a larger business. "Small Businesses also help build communities and are a lifeline of contact and support for many vulnerable residents in Gower." Rebecca Evans AM said: "This is a challenging time for many small businesses. Market failure to provide finance for small businesses is a real problem, and that is why the Welsh Labour Government set up the Development Bank of Wales. It opened last month, providing focused financial support for micro, small starts-ups, and innovative businesses across Wales. "This kind of support will help our SMEs to grow and become stronger. I would encourage businesses in Gower to get in touch to find out more." In the run-up to Small Business Saturday, Rebecca Evans AM and Tonia Antoniazzi MP are promoting small businesses from across Gower on social media. If you would like them to promote your small business, just send them a picture.  Rebecca Evans AM, Assembly Member for Gower, has hailed the success of the Welsh Government’s Train Work Live campaign as Wales exceeded its GP training places target. Mrs Evans said: “Following the conclusion of all three rounds of recruitment in 2017, the Wales Deanery has now confirmed the appointment of 144 GP training places, surpassing the 136 places available. This compares to 121 places that were filled in 2016 – an increase of 19%. “It follows the launch of a UK-wide and international campaign to promote Wales as an excellent place for doctors - including GPs - to train, work and live.” The campaign includes two financial incentives schemes: a targeted scheme offering a £20,000 incentive to GP trainees taking up posts in specified areas with a trend of low fill rates, and a universal scheme offering a one off payment for all GP trainees to cover the cost of one sitting of their final examinations. Mrs Evans added: “We know what a great place Wales is to work and live. The more we celebrate this, the more we can attract highly skilled people to work here. “With the impressive response to the campaign, it has now been extended to encourage trainee psychiatrists to come to Wales, which is a particular recruitment challenge across the whole of the UK.” Long before I had the privilege of serving as Carl’s Deputy in Government, I worked for him as his researcher here in the Assembly, while he was still on the backbenches.
Even back then, Carl put his own unique and colourful stamp on everything he did – and our office was no different. I am quietly confident that our office was the first and only office to boast a fluffy white lampshade, a purple lava lamp, and a statue of Eeyore. Those years working for Carl were a joy. I will always be grateful to him for his kindness and generosity to both myself and my husband, Paul. Working for Carl was every bit as fun as you would imagine it would be. But, behind the jokes and laughter was a deep seriousness about making life better for his constituents, and a driving passion for social justice. I remember how proud and excited I was when Carl was promoted to his first Ministerial role. After a couple of weeks, I asked him, “So, Carl, what’s it like being in Government?” “Ah, mate,” he said, “I keep telling everyone to call me Carl, but everyone keeps on calling me Minister! I say ‘Call me Carl’, they say ‘Of course, Minister!’” And that was Carl – he never got caught up in his own importance. He believed that everyone was equal, and he treated everyone the same. In the fourteen years I knew Carl, I knew him as the big man with a big heart. And he wore that big heart on his sleeve. We all know the causes he was passionate about, and the things he loved – fairness, equality, social justice, kindness. We are mourning now, because we are sad we will never see our friend again, but in time, our best tribute to him will be finish the work he started. |
