Welsh TV Company’s new digital venture launches first app

Calon, whose team were responsible for animated tv successes such as SuperTed, Fireman Sam, and Hana’s Helpline, has created a new digital company with two recent graduates from The University Of Glamorgan.

The new company is called Calon Digital Ltd, and is based in Abercynon.  It is a joint venture between Calon and Eilian Roderick and Richard Pring, who recently graduated from the M.A. course in animation at the Atrium, The University of Glamorgan’s School of Creative & Cultural Industries in Cardiff.

Calon Digital Ltd is working on several digital projects: an interactive book for children, an innovative application of augmented reality, and a series of apps that the company is developing with the help of well-known Welsh psychologist, Philippa Davies.  The first of these, Stay Calm, is designed to help people who feel anxious or stressed, and was released in the Apple Store in the run up to Christmas.

Stay Calm takes you through a series of four exercises designed to bring your breathing and heart rate under control.  Intended primarily for the i-phone, it can be used to relieve stress anywhere.

Robin Lyons, Calon’s Managing Director, is a Visiting Professor at the Atrium.  “I give a series of talks to the MA students, which allows me to spot up and coming talent.  Richard and Eilian are a great team. They combine programming and visual skills, and are very imaginative.  The future of the creative industries in Wales relies on talented young people like these”

Welsh tourism group provides high tech half term

North Wales Borderlands, which promotes Wrexham, Flintshire and Denbighshire, provided kids (and adults) with a mixture of technology and the great outdoors this half term.

The tourist body used geocaching to play hide and seek with ‘treasure’ hidden at ten tourist attractions in the area.

Geocaching is fast becoming more and more popular, made accessible with the growing number of GPS-enabled devices such as smartphones and portable sat navs.

This pile of logs is a good place to hide a geocache

Caches are usually watertight boxes containing a log book and sometimes other items the owner or previous visitors have left. These are hidden at a location and the grid reference given. Often there are accompanying clues to exactly where the cache is – some can be quite small.

North West Borderlands provided a map and clues to where the caches were. Once participants had found a cache they were asked to sign the log book and take a picture of themselves with the disposable camera provided. Once they’d found all the caches they’re invited to get in touch via the website for the chance of winning prizes.

Chris Henshaw of North West Borderlands said: “This is a unique campaign to promote the destination and its key areas. We believe people can enjoy a good old fashioned family day out in North Wales Borderlands, and geocaching really brings this traditional pastime into the modern world.”

For more information about geocaching and more caches to find in the UK and internationally, visit geocaching.com.

Edwina Hart announces extension to Broadband Support Scheme

Business Minister Edwina Hart with Ian Cummings who has benefitted from the Broadband Support Scheme

Business Minister Edwina Hart has announced she is extending the highly successful Broadband Support Scheme which is tackling and eradicating broadband notspots in Wales.

The Scheme provides a grant of up to £1,000 to residents, businesses and third sector organisations in broadband notspots to enable them to obtain a broadband connection using the most appropriate technology available.

The £2m project launched in 2010 was due to end this financial year but Mrs Hart is now extending the project to ensure the Welsh Government can respond to individuals with immediate broadband issues.

It will operate in parallel to the Next Generation Broadband for Wales (NGBW) project which will bring high speed broadband to homes and businesses that the market will not reach unaided.

The NGBW project is on track to identify a winning bidder in March 2012, with the roll out of infrastructure beginning later that year, and concluding in 2015.

Mrs Hart said the Broadband Support scheme has been very successful and to date more than 2000 applications have been approved with a further 230 being assessed.

“It is filling a real need and making a difference to individuals, businesses and communities enabling them to participate in the benefits of the digital age.

“Terminating the Broadband Support Scheme in March 2012 could leave a potential gap in our ability to support people with immediate broadband issues. I am therefore pleased to announce we are extending the scheme to provide continuity during the early roll-out of next generation broadband and will continue to review the relevance of the Broadband Support Scheme during this period.”

To date 2,038 applications have been approved, which includes funding for sixteen community schemes covering 918 homes, representing a financial commitment of £1,662,709.

A further 232 applications are currently being assessed with interest from another ten community schemes (covering 1,055 potential applicants).

Community cheers for Broadband Support Scheme

Ian Cummings who is set to launch Newport’s only micro-brewery creating 100 jobs is happy to toast the benefits of the Welsh Government’s Broadband Support Scheme.

Ian is director of Evol (Wales) Ltd, which trades across a number of sectors including construction, property and investment and is due to launch his latest venture – the Tiny Rebel Brewing Company – later this month, which is set to create 100 jobs over the next three years.

His businesses are based in Newport, although Evol currently operates from Ian’s home in St. Brides Wentlooge – a broadband notspot with a very poor and slow broadband connection. It meant it could take up to 30 minutes to download a file.

Now thanks to support from the Broadband Support Scheme, which provides funding towards the set-up and installation costs of a broadband connection in notspots, Ian has a high speed connection and delighted with the results.

“Running a number of businesses requires a strong, fast, reliable internet connection and it has been essential while setting up Tiny Rebel Brewing Company. We are in constant communication with the Tiny Rebel Studios in Los Angeles, a games software manufacturer which is run by my son and our graphic and website designers in Canada,” he said.

“Our new connection is tremendous. It means our download speeds have increased dramatically enabling us to work more efficiently and improve communication, especially with our overseas suppliers.”

The company is now also able to carry out on-line research into different markets while the use of on-line banking has improved the payment process to their supply chain.

High speed broadband has been essential in developing plans to launch Tiny Rebel Brewing Company. The company plans to develop a chain of Tap Houses and employ up to 100 people over the next three years. Its first acquisition is the Navigation House in Abercynon that is currently being refurbished

Ian is one of nearly fifty people in the village – residents, businesses and organisations – who together made a successful community application to the Broadband Support Scheme for funding.

On a visit to the St Brides scheme, Business Minister Edwina Hart heard villagers are now receiving broadband speeds of at least 4Mbps, with some enjoying speeds up to 20Mbps.

Mrs Hart, who announced the extension of the scheme today, said she was pleased to see so many benefiting from the project including Tiny Rebel Brewing Company’s expansion plans.

“The St Brides project is one of many community schemes we are supporting around Wales and demonstrates how effective the Broadband Support Scheme is in eradicating notspots and supporting communities to deliver a sustainable broadband service to rural areas of Wales.”

A family run business, Evol (Wales) Limited was established in 2003 and its first acquisition was Whitehead Building Services. Ian Cummings experience and expertise of developing a business turned Whitehead from a business with a turnover of £2.7m in 2003 to the £18m turnover business it is today.

Over 130 people are employed within the group with this figure set to increase with the launch of the Tiny Rebel Brewery and its Tap Houses .

Tiny Rebel Brewing Company evolved over a year ago with research and development brews being conducted from Ian’s garage and his son-in-law, Gareth, is now taking over the reins as head brewer.

Source: Welsh Government

Five social networks for business professionals

As more and more people turn to online social networking for business use, the number of social networks for business professionals has risen. We have some suggestions for you:

LinkedIn.com
Probably the best known business network for individuals, although it is sometimes lumped in with Facebook and Twitter as a general social network. LinkedIn is a good place to meet people, find people, be introduced to people through other people and to get and share advice through groups.

It isn’t so often used as somewhere to promote your business itself, unless you are in the B2B market. But it is an invaluable way of getting and sharing knowledge, and can even help you be perceived as an authority on your subject.

Xing.com
Started out as a European network but has now spread worldwide. It is another business network for individuals and has over 11 million members. It’s very, very similar to LinkedIn, with groups, job listings and company profiles.

Upspring.com
Similar to the previous two sites but with a more local twist. Upspring lets you connect with local businesses and entrepreneurs and to see what’s happening in your chosen area.

Businesses have more opportunity to promote themselves, and be promoted by others, on this network.

Efactor.com
Billed as ‘the world’s largest network for entrepreneurs’, Efactor lets you join a network, promote your start-up, get advice from mentors and experts and even find investors.

The website features a ‘perks card’ with which members can get deals and special offers. It also publicises worldwide events but the site content and members are skewed to the US.

focus.com
Focus is a network where business descision makers and IT professionals can ask questions and share their knowledge. The site features reports, publications and upcoming events such as seminars.

Could we help your enterprise with ICT? We can if you are in the Convergence area of Wales. Visit our website, Communities 2.0, or call us on 0845 474 8282.

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Small firms flourish with IT scheme help

A Swansea entrepreneur is encouraging budding businessmen and women to follow in his footsteps and take advantage of a scheme helping small businesses make the most of IT.

Nathan Dicks has set up Learnthrumusic, which allows year 10 and 11 GCSE students to learn English literature, mathematics and science through the medium of music by creating songs to help pupils remember the facts and figures.

The 27-year-old uses curriculum textbooks and works with local musicians and songwriters to compose and record songs which students can download.

After coming up with the unique concept he found his old computer equipment was not adequate.

But he is now hitting all the right notes after receiving financial assistance for new computers and help developing his website from Communities 2.0, a Welsh Government scheme offering small businesses financial help towards IT equipment as well as advice and practical support.

Invaluable

Mr Dicks, who studied economics at Swansea University, said: “Thanks to Communities 2.0, my productivity has doubled and the scheme has been invaluable to our growth.

“I’d definitely recommend that other people in Swansea either running a business or thinking of starting one should contact the team to see what help is available.”

Communities 2.0 helps communities and small enterprises make the most of the internet.

Source: thisissouthwales.co.uk

Could we help your enterprise with ICT? We can if you are in the Convergence area of Wales. Visit our website, Communities 2.0, or call us on 0845 474 8282.

Ian Mcintosh: Volunteering could be solution to youth unemployment problems

With fears of youth unemployment resulting in a lost generation, Ian Mcintosh of Groundwork Wales, explains how a new approach to volunteering has the potential to change lives and develop 21st century skills

The concept of volunteering is simple. An individual gives up his or her time without payment to perform a deed to benefit a good cause, usually a local community or charity.

The act of volunteering is a selfless one, where the main beneficiary is a charity or community group and the volunteer is rewarded with the feel-good factor that comes from contributing to a worthy cause.

According to the Wales Council for Voluntary Action, around 410,000 people in Wales last year considered themselves to be volunteers. These volunteers delivered projects and contributed time with an estimated value of £1.6bn to the Welsh economy.

Whilst volunteering is a selfless act, a reward in itself, today’s volunteers are increasingly getting a payback for their time with more than just a warm feeling inside. With structured volunteering, the act of volunteering has become a very real avenue to full time employment.

Gone are the days where volunteering only meant standing behind the counter of a local charity shop or picking up litter off a local beach. Yes, these opportunities still exist and are just as valued by local communities as ever. However, for those looking to boost their career prospects, build their skills base and contribute to the greater good, all at the same time; volunteering has got interesting.

From learning the intricacies of sustainable wood use and woodland management to gaining accredited qualifications in indoor construction and plumbing, volunteers in Wales are now being offered a range of opportunities to learn new skills, build their experience and, ultimately, improve their job prospects.

Such is the demand from employers in Wales for well-rounded candidates with experience and skills beyond academia that volunteering is undergoing a revival in Wales. It’s a win-win combination. Volunteers are getting the opportunity to develop their skill sets and boost their CVs while local communities and charities are benefiting from having a skilled workforce to perform technical, labour intensive tasks.

Volunteering is so popular in Wales that demand for structured volunteering opportunities is fast outstripping the supply. And as youth unemployment levels in Wales remain high, more and more people are turning to unpaid opportunities to bolster their job credentials.

The approach of working without pay has long been popular with job hunters looking for a foot in the door with prospective employers. Work experience placements and internships are highly sought after by job candidates, and businesses across Wales are now inundated with requests from qualified staff offering their services without charge in the hope of eventually landing a full-time role.

However, such is the demand for these internships that getting one can be as difficult as getting a full-time job. With application forms, interviews and references required, the process of applying for an internship is often as rigorous as applying for permanent employment, sometimes more so.

That’s where volunteering is different.

Structured volunteering organisations, such as Groundwork, help people on their journey to employment, from confidence building to re-training and learning new skills. This breed of volunteering organisation is committed to nurturing and motivating young people to reach their potential.

Communities 2.0 offers training for the volunteers of organisations involved in digital inclusion.
Visit our website, Communities 2.0., or call us on 0845 474 8282 for more information.

Transforming disused plots of land, regenerating green spaces and reviving ailing community spaces, young volunteers across Wales are acquiring the skills and experience to improve their career prospects. The by-product of this work is that hundreds of projects are being delivered across Wales every year to improve local neighbourhoods and benefit local communities.

Volunteering has evolved and is no longer considered to be devoting time without payment. True, volunteers do not receive financial reward for their time but what price the opportunity to gain hands-on experience, tutoring and mentorship from a qualified tradesman?

Young people across the country are increasingly starting to realise there’s nothing selfish about volunteering for personal gain, particularly if the work performed benefits others.

Furthermore, in addition to learning a new trade and picking up useful skills, structured volunteering projects are playing a big part in reviving community spirit in disadvantaged neighbourhoods across the country. These projects are giving young people the opportunity to re-integrate themselves into society by delivering projects to benefit their local communities. Maybe this is the element of structured volunteering that is the most valuable.

Many young people today struggle to find their purpose in life. Hampered by a stagnant job market and with no sign of light at the end of the tunnel, these youngsters can often turn to disruptive behaviour.

For many young people across Wales, structured volunteering schemes are providing this light at the end of the tunnel. By bringing them back into society, giving them the skills to contribute and improving their prospects for future employment, these schemes are playing a vital role in motivating a generation to reach their potential.

With youth unemployment levels in Wales showing no signs of decline, structured volunteering may not be the whole solution, but it certainly has a big part to play in re-engaging a generation of disaffected youth into society and supporting them into employment.

Groundwork Wales is an environmental regeneration charity that supports communities in need, working with partners to help improve the quality of people’s lives, their prospects and potential and the places where they live, work and play. For more information visit www.groundwork.org.uk/wales

Source: walesonline.co.uk

Internet safety…it’s good to talk!

Author: Mark Smith

Today is Safer Internet Day so, to mark the occasion, I thought I would go along to a class in South Wales that’s showing people how to stay safe online. I’d arranged to go to a class in Tredegar Library that was being held as part of the IT4Carers initiative that’s been supported by Communities 2.0.

When I got there, I quickly realised that they’d had a power cut at the venue and that it might mean the class would be cancelled. Fear not – the tutor and learners that had already arrived were determined to make something of the session. So, minus computers, I joined them in a round table discussion about internet safety and what it means to them, their children and grandchildren.

Most of the learners were grandparents that regularly care for their grandchildren while their parents are at work. Some said it’s often the case that the children head straight for their home computer and lose their grandparents in a flurry of clicks, keystrokes and browsers. One learner, Richard, explained how his grandson goes online through his Xbox, but admits that he could be talking to anyone. Another – Jackie – said ‘the kids know what to do with computers and their phones’ but agreed that ‘they’re not street-wise, so may put themselves in danger without knowing’.

What became clear during the session, was that the older learners were aware that the internet has some ‘hidden dangers’ but, as with education around alcohol, drugs and safe sex, advice and social awareness of e-safety needs to be managed in a balanced way. If you go in too strong, you’ll probably turn the children against you anyway or you’ll simply scare them out of using the internet – if you do nothing, you leave yourself open and your children vulnerable to cyber bullying or worse.

We talked about internet safety being the ‘stranger danger’ of the 21^st century and that an adult’s role in ensuring online safety for children was a full-time job, as the internet doesn’t have a ‘9pm watershed’ for its content as television does. I enjoyed the rare opportunity to talk to beneficiaries of Communities 2.0 without the need for technology. I will be going back in a few weeks time to capture their stories on camera, to share on the Communities 2.0 website.