Congratulations to all the young people from Swansea who got their GCSE results yesterday as well as those who picked up their A-Levels last week. Our young people experienced real challenges during the pandemic when they had to work from home for extended periods, helping keep our communities safe. So it’s a great testimony to their resilience, hard work and talent that the results they’ve achieved out-performed the Welsh average. My thanks also go to our education department, the schools, teachers and parents who’ve supported our young people to be the best they can be. Good luck to all the young people in the next chapter of their lives and their future careers.
Of course, our role in supporting young people doesn’t end when they leave school. That point was very much on my mind on Wednesday when I went to Pembroke Dock to see the latest developments in our regional Swansea Bay City Deal initiative. You can find out more about that here. Pembroke Dock may seem a long way away. But the impact of the city deal on our growing reputation and drive to transform our economy and create jobs, potentially for the young people gaining their results this summer, can’t be understated. It’s also why it was great to see Deputy Prime Minister Angela Raynor, Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens and First Minister Eluned Morgan joining the chair of the region, our council Leader Rob Stewart, at Wednesday’s event. Their presence recognises the importance of what we are doing here and reflects the growing confidence the UK and Welsh Governments have in our vision for our communities. Thanks to what they heard from us they will take back to Cardiff and London some great stories about the region and Swansea, enabling them to endorse our reputation, spirit and aspirations to influential people and businesses in ways that will benefit us in years to come.
Another example of how delivering successful regeneration projects generates wider confidence was on show earlier this week when I visited the Princess Quarter development in the city centre. Alongside the Leader and the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary Jane Bryant, we saw the impact of millions of pounds of private sector investment in our city centre. Princess Quarter is just one instance of how the success of Swansea Arena – along with 71/72 Kingsway and Palace Theatre due to be completed shortly – is now helping build our city centre’s reputation among businesses. They have been crucial in attracting private sector investment, so it’s great to see that investors have witnessed our ambition and want to be part of it, creating jobs and improving viability for the city centre.
Congratulations are also due this week to David Lloyd from our building control team who celebrates his 50th year of service to the council. Thank you David, yours is quite an achievement. And it’s farewell to Kim Collis, who leaves us after 32 years. Kim retired in June as County Archivist but stayed on a little longer to support us with data protection projects.
Thank you to our team at the Quadrant car park who came to the rescue of visitors whose vehicle experienced a flat tyre. Their actions were so exemplary that the couple, one of whom was heading to hospital for dialysis treatment, contacted us to praise the team’s calm, reassuring presence and their tea!
And, finally, thank you to all those who joined the Welsh Blood Service’s advice day at the Civic Centre on Wednesday about giving blood and registering for stem cell donation. It’s a service that matters to me because it saves lives and one you all know I feel passionate about supporting. If you couldn’t attend the event you can find out about further sessions here.
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