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businessupdate Newport News…


The first direct public transport link between Newport and the University Hospital of Wales was launched yesterday when Newport Bus’ X30 bus service begins serving the hospital’s grounds. The X30 service, which is


the only express bus service to run between Newport and Cardiff, will include anew stop at the hospital adjacent to its main multi-storey car park. Buses will operate every 10


minutes to and from the hospital with services alternating between Cardiff Bus Station and Newport Bus Station. More than 600 people living


in association with


Tuesday May 1, 2012 Busfirmlaunchesnewdirect route


Newport Transport, said: “From our own customer research and work with the Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board we realised that many more people would benefit from this service stopping at the University Hospital of Wales. “As abus operator we


in the Newport area work at the University Hospital of Wales, while nearly 40,000 people from the city and wider area of Gwent use the hospital every year. The service will also provide people living


in Cardiff with more opportunities to use public transport to get to and from the hospital.


X30 bus user Jon McGarrigle ,who lives in Newport and works at the Univerisyt of Wales Hosp[ital, joins Colin McMillan, head of transport and sustainable travel at the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, and bus driver Jason Morgan


Users of the service from Newport bus


station will be able to travel to the hospital in about 20 minutes, while those catching the X30 from Cardiff bus station will get there in 10 minutes. Scott Pearson, managing director of


feel it is important that our network provides as many travel opportunities as possible for people to use public transport. This new stop gives people living in the Newport and Cardiff areas who use the hospital aflexible and affordable way of getting there using the bus.”


Newport Bus has


worked in close partnership with the Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board to bring the X30 service to the hospital. The trust is working to provide more opportunities for people who use the hospital to get to and from there using public transport.


20:20:20charitypledge kick starts20thyear


thousands for good causes across the country. The Acorn Group has promised to raise


T


£20,000 for 20 regional charities during its 20th year in its aptly named ‘20:20:20’ promise. A total of £7,000 of the full amount will be raised at Acorn’s Newport head office by the accounts, IT, marketing and HR departments as well as Acorn Global. Founded in Newport in 1992, the Acorn


Group has firmly established itself as an industry leader with 35 branches across the UK and more than 850 clients. Members of staff at the head office will


work together to raise £7,000 for seven charities they have chosen to support. The staff will be responsible for organising fundraising activity throughout the year to hit their targets. Acorn’s founder and managing director


Matt Southall said: “As abusiness we have always considered that the communities we live and work within deserve our support, and our staff have proved to be more than willing to get involved in providing just that. “But what we have also found is that the business itself has benefited from helping


Matt Southall


others. Our staff use some of their charity activities in team-building and as personal development opportunities. “In fact having their efforts redirected


periodically to concentrate on fundraising and community support often encourages afresh outlook on daily operations and customer service activities. “This year is aspecial year for the Acorn


Group, as we celebrate our 20th birthday –and what better way to mark the occasion than to share it with the people in the communities where we work. The 20:20:20 campaign helps to demonstrate precisely the type of relationship we have with local people and organisations up and down the country, and our staff are delighted to be further engaged in this way.”


he UK’s leading multi-regional recruitment and training company, which is based in Newport, is marking 20 years in business with a charity pledge set to raise


By Daniel Wilde, head of employment at HardingEvans solicitors, Newport


The government has announced one significant change to employment law and has indicated an intent to make further pro business reforms to employment tribunal practices. Akey change is that the qualified


period for employees to be able to bring claims of unfair dismissal has increased for one year to two years for all employees who have commenced employment subsequent to April 6, 2012.


While this will be viewed as apositive


change by most employers, it is advised that employers should not adopt acart blanche approach and start dismissing people without taking appropriate advice. The new qualifying period only


effects employees employed after April 6, 2012 and does not impact on any employees employed before that date who will still qualify for protection from unfair dismissal after one year’s employment . These changes are also likely to


mean that employees will consider whether they have alternative remedies such as claims for discrimination. While, only one significant change,


has been made this April the government has announced consultations on further proposals such as no fault dismissals, early mediation involving ACAS and employees possibly being required to pay fees to bring aclaim for the first time. While some of these proposals may


be mere soundbites it is clear that this government has avery different agenda to the last.


Check out southwalesargus.co.uk/business


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