Category Archives: Events

Events, Healthcare, Newport, News

ICC Wales to host Royal College of Nursing Congress 2024

Newport-based venue becomes the first in Wales to host the event

ICC Wales, Newport’s state-of-the-art convention centre, has been confirmed as the first Welsh venue to host the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Congress in its current format, which will take place in June 2024.

The five-day event, which is expected to welcome more than 2,000 delegates, is set to boost the local economy by £5.8m, with attendees from all parts of the UK seeking accommodation in hotels across Newport and Cardiff.

The Congress will take exclusive use of ICC Wales with its sister venue at Celtic Manor Resort supporting by providing accommodation, meeting spaces for fringe events and by hosting the event’s main dinner.

The RCN Congress is the ultimate opportunity for nurses to network with peers, hear from exceptional keynote speakers and take part in hot-topic debates about the issues affecting the nursing workforce.

The announcement that the 2024 event will take place at ICC Wales from June 2-6 strengthens Wales’s status as a destination for healthcare meetings and business events in general, with the RCN previously holding its Congress in major UK cities including Brighton, Glasgow, Liverpool, and Belfast.

Commenting on the announcement, ICC Wales Chief Executive Ian Edwards said: “We’re excited to be the first Welsh venue to host the Royal College of Nursing Congress next spring. This event is one of the largest and most important association conferences in the UK and it was right at the top of our target list when we launched the ICC Wales venue in 2019.

“Bringing it here so quickly, when you consider the closures caused by Covid, is a fantastic endorsement of the exceptional and expansive facilities we have at ICC Wales, and the trust that event organisers place in our dedicated team.

“The economic impact calculations also underline the benefits that these big conferences bring to the visitor economy in Wales with the event’s accommodation requirements being met by not just our venues within the Celtic Collection, but also by hotels across the cities of Newport and Cardiff.”

Helen Whyley, Director, RCN Wales, said: “As the Director of the RCN here in Wales, I am delighted that we will be hosting RCN Congress at the ICC, in Newport, in 2024. RCN members from across the UK will be welcomed to Wales with open arms, to network, share knowledge and participate in the UK’s largest nursing event.”

The RCN Congress is the latest in a series of large-scale healthcare events due to take place at ICC Wales in the coming year, including The British Renal Society’s UK Kidney Week and the British Elbow & Shoulder Society annual meeting in June, The British Society of Echocardiography’s conference in October; The UK Oncology Nursing Society (UKONS) and the British Society of Interventional Radiology annual meetings, which will both take place in November.

The venue has also confirmed medical events for 2024 including the Society of Cardiothoracic Surgery of Great Britain and Ireland’s annual meeting in March, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine’s Spring Conference in April, and the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland’s (ACPGBI) annual meeting in June and July.

Events, News, North Wales

Exciting Weekend for Aber Falls Visitor Centre, with Sunday Market and a new Limited Edition Whisky Release on Monday

As the warm weather promises a pleasant bank holiday, North Wales Distillery and Visitor Centre, Aber Falls, is set to make it even better with two new reasons to visit this weekend.

Sunday 28 May – Aber Falls Distillery Market

On Sunday 28th May, the popular Aber Falls Market returns.  As well as produce from the distillery, the markets will offer a range of treats from local businesses across North Wales, including popular favourites  Kirsty Williams Ceramics, Eryi Candles and Dave Swinburn – you’ll find something for everyone.

  • What: Aber Falls Markets
  • When: 10am- 4pm Sunday 28th May
  • Where: Aber Falls Distillery, Station Road, Abergynegregyn, Llanfairfechan, LL33 0LB.

Vendors include:

  • Kirsty Williams Ceramics
  • Lucy Bowman Jewellery
  • The Crafty Guillemot
  • Sarah’s Gardens
  • Eryi Candles
  • Jeffrey Stars
  • Dave Swinburn
  • Just Moo
  • Battle Green

Monday 29 May – New Limited Edition Whisky Release – Just 635 bottles

The Limited Edition releases from Aber Falls are always a massive hit at the Visitor Centre – so when they release their brand-new sauterne Distiller’s Cut whisky, with just 635 bottles available at its Visitor Centre from Monday 29th May, don’t be surprised if it sells out fast.

Made from just one single sauternes cask, this Single Malt is very distinctive and light amber in colour. The exclusive Distiller’s Cut delivers sweet grape, soft toffee, syrup, and creamy berries on the palate, alongside hints of nut and rich oak.

With long and lingering sweet fruit notes, this limited-edition whisky is an expression of some of the characteristics that contributes to Aber Falls’ Single Malt Whisky.

Dr Kirstie McCallum, Master Blender at Aber Falls Distillery, said:

“This is the first Distiller’s Cut released in 2023, and we’re very excited for consumers to experience this unique liquid. Thanks to being a Welsh distillery, we are truly able to experiment with flavours.”

Aber Falls whiskies are distilled and matured in North Wales, between the foothills of the Snowdonia mountains and the Menai straits. They are crafted using 100% Welsh malted barley and rock-filtered water taken from the Aber Falls Waterfall and are crafted by a team of local people.

The Aber Falls Distiller’s Cut Single Malt Whisky is bottled at 47% ABV and available to purchase from Monday 29th May at the Aber Falls Visitor Centre at an RRP of £75.

 

AV, AV tech, Events, News

AT Communications Sets Sights On Touring With The First 4K Panasonic UE160 PTZ Cameras In The UK

Groundbreaking Panasonic PTZ delivers stunning images in challenging lighting conditions and dramatically reduces moiré effect when shooting against LED walls.

 One of UK’s leading AV hire companies, AT Communications (ATC), is the first in the UK to stock Panasonic’s latest generation 4K AW-UE160 PTZ cameras with ambitions to expand its position in the music festival and touring sector. As soon as the company saw a demonstration they recognised immediately that this was the rental and staging camera that would help them achieve their ambitions.

“The moment we saw the UE160 in action, we knew it was a game changer,” said James Speer, Rental Manager at ATC. “What really caught our eye was the moiré filter, the quality of picture and the interfaces. We were looking at the next generation PTZ camera.”

ATC is a specialist in the corporate and events markets and has its sights sets on expanding further into the touring and festival space from its Midlands and London bases. The company can provide a full service from design to show with the largest revenues coming from its LED wall hire.

“We wanted new PTZ cameras that would work effectively with the LED walls and when Panasonic offered us a demonstration, we were keen to see what the latest generation could offer,” explained James. “This latest Panasonic UE160 PTZ camera is on another level. We were proud to have been the first in the UK to have them and they went straight out on tour. It’s still early days but the client reviews are that this is the next chapter in PTZ cameras.”

The UE160 4K PTZ camera features a newly developed 4K 1” MOS sensor that offers the highest sensitivity of Panasonic’s entire PTZ line-up. Production teams shooting at venues can easily capture clear images even in the most challenging lighting conditions. Meanwhile, the UE160’s new optical low pass filter reduces the effect of moiré for clearer picture quality when shooting against an LED wall, which is especially important for touring, festival and events. Its high-speed frame rate will help broadcasters capture slow motion shots in HD, while seamless integration with the robotic camera system brings live broadcast-style movements to the PTZ, resulting in a dynamic and highly engaging video production.

Along with the outstanding high sensitivity of F14 / 2,000 LX and its High-Bandwidth NDI capability, the UE160 is also the first ever compact PTZ camera to support SMPTE ST2110, an IP transmission standard for the broadcasting industry, and wireless transmission with a 5G mobile router (via USB tethering). It supports return input and a rear tally lamp that can also be lit in yellow, which are essential for combined operation with system cameras. In addition, it is equipped with a cropping zoom function that can output multiple angle video with a single camera and 2x high-speed output (HD) from SDI/HDMI.

For the full customer story visit: https://eu.connect.panasonic.com/gb/en/case-studies/AT-communications-first-4k-ue160-ptz-cameras-uk

Events, Tech, Tech Events, Technology

Outer space, smart cities, economics and immortality: Dublin Tech Summit unveils future forward lineup

Panels and speeches on futurism, Artificial Intelligence, robotics, social media and more set to take place at Ireland’s largest tech conference

Dublin Tech Summit (DTS) has, today, revealed details of some of the futuristic talks, panels and interviews happening across multiple stages at this year’s event. These include out-of-this-world keynote speeches from Africa’s first astronaut, Sara Sabri, and José Luis

Cordeiro, Director of The Millennium Project, on how technology can hold the key to immortality.

Dublin Tech Summit, which is now in its 7th year, takes place at the RDS in Dublin on May 31 and June 1, 2023.

The biggest event of its kind to date, DTS 2023 will host hundreds of tech leaders from all over the world who will address over 8,000 attendees through a wide range of cutting-edge talks, panels, interviews, demonstrations and more. As Ireland’s largest tech conference, DTS23 will also highlight Ireland’s role as a tech hub for Europe and the wider world, showcasing the present and future of what technology has made possible and what lies ahead.

DTS23’s latest announcement embraces a wide range of topics at a time when innovation is evolving faster than ever. These include:

  • From Space to Earth: Fireside chat featuring Sara Sabry, founder of the Deep Space Initiative and the first woman from the continent of Africa to travel to space, and Dr.

Norah Patten, a leading figure in Ireland’s space and aeronautics landscape

  • The Death of Death – Singularity and Immortality by 2045: Keynote speech by engineer, futurist and transhumanist José Luis Cordeiro, Director of The Millennium

Project

  • Smart Cities and Urban Tech: Panel discussion between Rob Brown, Founder and CEO, KERB, Aisling Dunne, Head of Public Policy, BOLT, Brian O’Rourke, CEO and Co-Founder, Cityswift and John Cormican, Site Lead, Jaguar Land Rover
  • Shattering the Illusion of a Fully Secure System – Why You are Not as Safe as You Think: Fireside chat featuring Rickard Carlsson, CEO of, Detectify, and Ambika Kapur, VP of Networking and Advanced Security, VMware
  • The Making of an Interspecies Economy: Keynote speech by Cecilia Tham, Co-founder + CEO, Futurity Systems, accompanied by Herbie the Robot
  • Large Language Models: What Comes Next? Keynote speech by AI pioneer and Founder of SingularityNET, Dr. Ben Goertzel
  • The Transformation of Society by Advancing AI: Human and Robotic Perspectives: Fireside by Janet Adams, COO, SingularityNET alongside Desdemona the Robot from The Jam Galaxy Band
  • From Facebook Friends to Co-Founders: The Risks and Rewards of Starting a Business with a Stranger: Fireside conversation between Ulrika Lilja and Claudia Gärd, Co-founders of Gofrendly
  • Entrepreneurs: The World Needs You: Keynote speech by Adam Cheyer, partner at Project Voice Venture Partners and Co-creator of Siri, to open the Ignite Stage Pitch Competition
  • Artificial Intelligence in the Data Protection Context: Fireside chat between Sean Hurley, Assistant Commissioner with the Data Protection Commission, and Barry Scannell, leading AI law expert

Throughout the two-day event, DTS23 will examine the latest innovations affecting employees, and industries amid an ever-changing tech ecosystem. While the ongoing slowdown is causing prolonged uncertainty, the rapid development of AI and the move toward sustainability, are presenting opportunities for many industries to grow and evolve. All points of view will be represented at DTS23 as panelists, moderators and attendees examine and debate innovation that will help improve the sector in 2023 and beyond.

Further guest speakers and panels are set to be announced over the coming weeks. Dublin

Tech Summit is supported by 80 industry partners and will showcase 150 start-ups throughout the site. In addition, the DTS by Night programme will see a range of venues around Dublin and beyond host informal networking events that are set to bring the city back to life.

Tickets for this year’s event are on sale now. For more information, please see https://dublintechsummit.tech/.

Commenting on the upcoming Dublin Tech Summit for 2023, Managing Director, Tracey Carney said: “With just a matter of weeks until Dublin Tech Summit 2023 kicks off, we are thrilled to unveil just a selection of the topics set to be covered. Every stage will see true thought leadership presented and new ideas explored, along with innovative solutions to some of the most important challenges ahead for the world in the coming years. We look forward to welcoming the tech world to Dublin.”

 

Image credit: Dublin Tech Summit

Events, News

Stirling SpiritFEST 2023 – Scottish Spirit Festival set to return to Stirling this October

Tickets have gone in sale for Stirling SpiritFEST 2023, the 10-day celebration of Scottish spirits that returns again this autumn. Hosted in the iconic Scottish city, Stirling SpiritFEST begins on Friday 27th October 2023 with an opening night gin tasting, and incorporates both the long-established Stirling Whisky Festival and Stirling Gin Festival.

Among the exhibitors at this year’s festival will be Rock Rose, Gin Bothy, Tomatin Distillery, regular exhibitors Indie Brands, Douglas Laing, Downpour and Pilgrims, with masterclasses hosted by Tomintoul, Stirling Distillery and Marussa Beverages plus many more.

The 10 day SpiritFEST offers a range of spirit workshops and masterclasses, alongside many unique drinks-based events at venues across Stirling throughout the week. The full list of events can be found on the SpiritFEST website. The two showcase events, the Stirling Gin and Stirling Whisky Festivals, take place on Saturday 28th October and Saturday 5th November respectively.

The Stirling Whisky festival, which launched in 2012, is set to be bigger than ever with some of the most prestigious names in the Scottish Whisky industry attending. The festival has welcomed thousands of whisky enthusiasts to the heart of Scotland over the years, showcasing over 100 of the country’s finest whiskies. Attendees can also sign up for whisky masterclasses run during the afternoon and evening sessions.

The Stirling Gin Festival – one of the first gin festivals to launch in the UK back in 2014 – is set to kick off the first weekend of action in the city. Celebrating the best in Scottish craft gins, the event will see popular cocktail masterclasses run through the day, and provide gin lovers with the chance to sample the gins of a wide range of craft distilleries and enjoy some on the day discounts to boot.

Event organiser June McCann spoke of the SpiritFEST 2023; “Our inaugral SpiritFEST was a massive success with people travelling from across the UK to attend our events. As well as our gin and whisky festivals, we will host a range of intimate events over the 10 days including our spooky gin tasting and ghost walk at the Old Town Jail, a glass blowing and whisky tasting evening with Angels’ Share glass and a Rum event too!”. Visit the event webpage for the latest list of events: https://stirlingdistillery.com/pages/spiritfest

The festival is a great opportunity for Scottish brands to promote their products as well as encourage visitors to explore local Stirling businesses as they descend on the beautiful, historic city.

Several of the festival’s events are expected to sell out quickly, so spirit enthusiasts are encouraged to book their tickets early to avoid disappointment. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite or via the Stirling Distillery website.

For businesses interested in becoming an exhibitor at the 2023 SpiritFEST, or if you’re a local business and would like to be included in the festival brochure, please email info@stirlingspiritfest.com.

Sláinte!

 

About Stirling SpiritFEST

Stirling SpiritFEST is a 10-day long festival of Spirits in Stirlingshire. Established in 2012 with the launch of the first Stirling Whisky Festival followed by the Stirling Gin Festival in 2014. It is a successful Scottish event management company founded by Cameron and June McCann who own Stirling Distillery. Their sell out events are attended by guests from all over the globe.

 Visit the Your Stirling website with local tips and places to visit in the city.

Events, News, North Wales

Looking for something to do this Easter Weekend? Check Out Aber Falls Spring and Summer Markets

Following the success of their Christmas markets, Aber Falls will again be welcoming visitors to the distillery this Spring to enjoy it’s new Easter markets – and will be continuing the theme with markets planned across the Summer.

As well as produce from the distillery, the markets will offer a range of treats from local businesses across North Wales.

So far, confirmed vendors include Mmmmelts, Lucy Bowman Jewellery, Eryri Candles, Kath Stringer’s bags and scarves made from recycled materials, and Jeffrey Stars, which sells astronomy and planetary science themed artwork.

 

  • What: Aber Falls Easter Markets
  • When: 9th April 10am-4pm
  • Where: Aber Falls Distillery, Station Road, Abergynegregyn, Llanfairfechan, LL33 0LB.

Summer Markets

As well as the Easter Market, the popular Distillery has a number of other markets planned for the Summer months.
Dates so far include:
APRIL 30th 2023
MAY 28th 2023
 JUNE 25th 2023
 JULY 30th 2023
 AUGUST 27th 2023
OCTOBER 29th 2023

If you are a Welsh business and would like to exhibit at Aber Falls markets, please APPLY HERE

To learn more about Aber Falls Distillery and Visitor Centre, click here.

 

Business, Events, Wrexham

Wrexham Glyndwr University to Host Knowledge Transfer Event in Collaboration With Other Academic Institutions for Businesses in North Wales

Wrexham Glyndwr University is proud to announce its upcoming event, Showcasing Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), in collaboration with Bangor University, Aberystwyth University and Grŵp Llandrillo Menai which will take place at the end of March. The event will provide a platform for organisations, businesses and industry professionals to learn about knowledge transfer partnerships and the benefits.

Taking place on March 31st 2023 from 10.00am – 1.00pm in The Quay Hotel, Deganwy Marina, LL31 9DJ (lunch included), the event is designed to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange between academia and industry, with the ultimate goal of driving innovation and economic growth.

Starting with an introduction from Mick Card, Knowledge Transfer Advisor on behalf of Innovate UK, the event will also showcase case studies from each academic institution, featuring academic experts and industry partners. Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in an interactive Q & A session, network with peers and can expect to gain valuable insights into cutting-edge technologies, emerging trends and best practices in the areas of expertise covered by each academic institution.

Jane Edwards, Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Partner at WGU commented:

“This event is a great opportunity to come and find out about all things KTP and their benefits for everyone involved, from businesses, academics and graduates wishing to fast-forward their career”.

Aberystwyth University expressed their excitement to participate and engage with businesses:

“We’re looking forward to joining this exciting event and meeting the businesses who attend. We’ve got some great examples to share with you all, with the benefits the company partners gained from the projects front and centre”.

Grŵp Llandrillo Menai commented:

“We have a presentation and a video to share with you on our recently completed successful Knowledge Transfer Partnership project with Fifth Wheel company. We are very excited to meet businesses and sharing our experiences as an academic establishment supporting local companies”.

Glyndwr University is committed to supporting research and innovation that has positive impact on society and the economy. Through events like this, the university aims to create opportunities for collaboration, knowledge transfer, and partnership working that will drive innovation and economic growth in the region.

The Showcasing KTP event is open to all and registration is free. With limited spaces available, book you free place here.

For more information, please contact: enterprise@glyndwr.ac.uk

Digital Transformation, Events, Low Code, News

Neptune Software Announces Free Low-Code Experience Day 2023

No-code/low-code software provider Neptune Software has announced its annual low-code experience day in Berkshire.

Taking place on 24th March at the Royal Berkshire Hotel in Sunninghill, the free, full day event will cover the major topics of digitalisation and best practices for SAP Fiori app development through customer stories, networking and a range of industry expert keynotes.

Speakers include Robert Thacker, Vice President of Strategy, Digital and Analytics at Anschutz Entertainment Group and Sebastiano Smargiassi, SAP Mobile Senior Developer at Hitachi Rail.

 

The highlight of the day will be a discussion with an exclusive CxO panel on how CIOs can advance company sustainability goals through digitalisation.

Speaking on the event, Vincent Kruse, Managing Director of Neptune Software for the UK and Ireland, said: “We are excited to welcome Neptune Software’s employees, clients and the public to this year’s low-code experience day from all over the UK and Ireland. If you’re interested in how no-code/low-code is revolutionising the workforce across industries, or want to find out what Neptune Software can do for your business, please do come along and speak to one of our excellent team members. It’s a day not to be missed.”

To secure a ticket to the free event, visit the Neptune Software website.

Business, Business Advice, Events, News

Award Winning West Wales Business Leader and International Speaker Set to Host 2 Day Event at The House of Lords – with 10 Free Places Up for Grabs Today!

Award-winning Swansea Business Leader Bernie Davies celebrated International Womens Day today by supporting other businesswomen and speaking with other reknowned international female speakers at a celebratory event taking place at the African Community Centre in Swansea.

However, delivering life-changing talks and business advice is very much ‘business as usual’  for this the keynote speaker, 2 x bestselling author,  TEDx Speaker, DEI Advisor, Entrepreneur and Former Lawyer with a successful legal career spanning 21 years and a calendar of prestigious speaking engagements that many would envy!

Bernie has addressed audiences at the United Nations, the House of Lords, Royal Society London, Excel Arena and more on circumnavigating the many facets of change, as well as heading up the South West Wales Introbiz Network where Bernie shares her life and business expertise with Welsh businesses of all sizes.

Hot on the heels of International Women’s Day, Bernie is set to host a two day Retreat at Lancaster Gate and the House of Lords next week, delivering two full days of masterclasses from Bernie and other experts in their field – and Bernie has 10 free places available to celebrate International Womens Day! 

To apply for a place, please email bernie@berniedavies.com

If you miss out on a free place, Bernie is offering 50% off all bookings but you’ll have to be quick as the offer ends at midnight tonight.

Women Mastering Change – a 2 Day Retreat

The theme of the event is ‘Women Mastering Change’.

Bernie explains:

“Women are “birthers” and by nature the carriers of change. They are expected to work alongside men in the corporate world, the third sector and as entrepreneurs, whilst still be excellent wives and mothers. They do so with the Gender pay gap still at 12% and are expected to handle the changes that come their way with the same strength of character, resilience and imagination as their male counterparts.”

“In this post pandemic era, change is inevitable. Accepting and maximising the opportunities that change offers is therefore an imperative. ”

On day one of the Retreat at Lancaster Gate, Bernie, along with reknowned speakers Cody Gapare, Desiree Peterkin Bell, Durdana Ansari OBE , Stephanie & Nicky Taylor Eula Clarke  will share how they’ve had to deal with change, how we all have seen our worlds changing, and discuss the potential challenges this new season brings and empower women with strategies and advice on how to navigate it.

Day two is open to all genders, and delegates will be rubbing shoulders with like minded dignitaries at the House of Lords where they will hear from Headline Speaker, Lady Anne Welsh, Stephanie & Nicky Taylor, Keynote Speakers, Alison Edgar MBE, Drs Detina & Argita Zalli to name a few.

 

FOR FULL EVENT DETAILS AND FULL SPEAKER BIOS AND SPONSORS- SEE EVENT WEBSITE

 

Events, News, Rugged Tech, Technology

Toughbook Addresses Evolving Mobile Challenges At BAPCO 2023

Join Panasonic TOUGHBOOK to learn about the latest mobile solutions shaping the future of the sector and streamlining emergency service workloads.

The Panasonic TOUGHBOOK team will be helping emergency service leaders address their most pressing mobile challenges and trial the latest rugged mobile computing technologies at BAPCO 2023, at Coventry Building Society Arena on March 7th and 8th. Since its launch in 1993, the British Association of Public Safety Communications Officials, known as BAPCO, has become known as the leading UK based Association for all professionals using or developing Public Safety technology.

The latest Panasonic TOUGHBOOK solutions are helping emergency services across the country to bolster operational efficiency and increase ROI. In emergency response vehicles, TOUGHBOOK devices used as Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) have become the norm, delivering live updates to drastically reduce response times and deliver an increasingly efficient public service. Many UK&I fire, ambulance and police forces use TOUGHBOOK devices in specialist roles within their services, ranging from personal issue devices to essential in-vehicle tools.

From MDT solutions to personal issue tablets and handhelds, the Panasonic TOUGHBOOK stand will host the devices most popular within the industry. This includes the TOUGHBOOK G2, a commonly employed demountable rugged tablet within ambulance, fire and police services, and the TOUGHBOOK 33, a primary device in over 4000 frontline fire appliances, and deployed alongside other TOUGHBOOK solutions to make up over 80% of all UK frontline mobile fire devices.

 “In the public sector, a well-considered mobile computing strategy has the power to radically improve response times and efficiency, effectively supporting emergency services and streamlining their workload,” said Peter Thomas, Strategy Manager for Public Sector at Panasonic Mobile Solutions Business Division Europe. “BAPCO is a highlight in our events calendar, allowing us to work with customers directly to develop their digital strategies, offer technical advice, and answer any burning questions to ensure the right teams are paired with the right solutions. We look forward to spending valuable time with customers and partners and showcasing the latest and greatest rugged mobile computing tech for this sector.”

The Panasonic Toughbook stand will be E28. You can register for BAPCO for free here