New Velindre Cancer Centre - Summary Monitoring Report - June 2025

Meet Megan Morgan. At just 18-years-old, she’s possibly the youngest female crane slinger and crane operation apprentice in the UK. She’s helping to build the new Velindre Cancer Centre - while also pushing gender boundaries in the construction industry

She’s young, fresh-faced and making her mark in the male dominated world of construction. As a slinger and crane operator apprentice for sub-contractor MPS Crane Operators, she’s helping build a state-of-the-art facility in her home city and loving every minute of it.

Megan, from Cardiff, tells us: “I did a multi skills course, along with carpentry, at college and then I said to my Dad, who also works in construction, that I needed a change and didn’t know what to do.  He said, ‘Well, why don’t you be a slinger?’ and I thought “Oh, well I might as well give it a go” and here I am!”

And her Dad’s suggestion was a good one because Megan is thriving. As a slinger, she safely attaches loads to cranes and directs lifting operations using hand or radio signals, thus playing a key role in ensuring safety on construction sites.

She explained: “I’m really enjoying working in the construction industry. It’s good experience, looks good on your qualifications and there’s always plenty of work so you’ll always have something to come back on.”

Transitioning from unemployment to full-time work was a big leap but Megan says: “Once you get yourself into a routine its perfect. Working helps keep you organised.”

Whilst the nVCC project currently boasts the one highest female ratios in UK construction, still being a minority on site hasn’t fazed her, especially with her Dad around. 

“Because my Dad works here and they respect him I don’t really get many comments. It can be intimidating, but you’ve got to just let it go if someone says something negative, give it back. Show you don’t care, and they’ll soon leave you alone. 

“There are challenges obviously. Basically, because I’m a girl I feel I have to do more to prove I can do it. But my advice would be, if you’re a young girl and you want to do it, then just do the best you can do. Some of the girls are better than the men,” Megan added.

 “If you have an idea or dream, just go for it, the world is your oyster. If you feel pressure, ignore it, fake it until you make it, I say. If you have a dream or if you want to be a slinger, just go for it, chase your dream. It’s going to be hard, but you keep going and suddenly it gets easier - and just think of the money you can earn.”

What keeps her motivated? “Every day is a new day, so go forward and hope for the best. Once you have the experience you can go a really long way with it. You can go to other countries and learn more. I am proof that girls can work in construction, it’s not just a boy’s environment, girls can do it as well. 

She also has a newfound confidence, thanks to her job: “When I first found out I’d be speaking on a radio to other workers I was like ‘Oh, I’ve got to speak to a random stranger? Oh no!’, but you just ask the crane driver their name and make some conversation. You’ve just got to get to know the people around you. I used to be shy, but this job brings you out of your shell.” 

Megan and MPS will be on site for the duration of the nVCC project until the crane works are finished. Sacyr UK wish her and the MPS team all the best with their next project and hope to see more of Megan as she continues her journey in Construction.

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Left to right: Aaran Morgan (Megan’s brother), Graham Thomas (her Dad) and Megan.

Sacyr UK, the contractors building the new Velindre Cancer Centre (nVCC) has welcomed two new apprentices to its back-office team.

Sam Rees, originally from Swansea but now living in Cardiff, has joined as a community benefits apprentice, while Faith Evans from Newport has joined as a finance apprentice.

Both will play an integral part in the project, supporting the teams on site and learning along the way, attending Cardiff and Vale College while also working at the site in Whitchurch, until its completion in 2027.

Twenty-one-year-old law graduate Faith said of her appointment: “Joining the Finance team at Sacyr has been a really great experience so far. Everyone has been really welcoming, and I have already learned a lot in a short time.

“I chose Sacyr because of its strong global presence and forward-thinking approach – it is the ideal place to grow professionally while contributing to impactful, sustainable projects, that really make a difference.”

Sam, who is 27 and a film graduate, said of their role supporting the nVCC community benefits team: “I have felt genuinely welcomed into a team of highly skilled professionals. Each day presents new challenges and opportunities for growth as no two days are the same so far and it’s been really good fun.

“I’m really enjoying working with the community around the project site and I’m looking forward to really making a difference to the local area and working with the team to leave a lasting legacy from the project.”

Joanne O’Keefe, Community Benefits Coordinator, who is leading on the apprenticeship delivery at Sacyr UK, said that Sam and Faith have already made a big impact since joining the team at nVCC: “It’s so good to have Sam and Faith on board. They have made a big impact and I know are going to be key team players in the work we do here over the next few years.

“Their enthusiasm and different ways of looking at the challenges we face has been really inspiring so far, and I can’t wait to see how they progress in the coming months on the project.”

A limited number of apprentice roles are still open on the project. Don’t miss the chance to gain hands-on experience and build your career with Sacyr UK. Interested candidates can explore and apply through the https://acorn-sacyr.dreams-lms.org/rcd/login.php 

An honorary garden is to be built in Cardiff’s Northern Cemetery to mark the 10th anniversary since the Human Transplantation Act for Wales was introduced. 

The garden, constructed by organ donation charity Believe Organ Donation Support (ODS) will be a space where people can pay their respects, give thanks to those who have given so much through organ donation and be an area to educate those around organ donation whilst removing organ donation as a taboo subject. Due to be opened in December this year, it will consist of individual organ donation commemoration stones alongside educational tools and signposting to other charities.

It will also be a place to commemorate the passing of the Human Transplantation Act where consent of organ donation is presumed unless a person has opted out, which came into effect in 2015. 

The scheme has been spearheaded by the charity Believe ODS, which was founded in 2015 by Anna-Louise Bates following the fatal road accident which claimed the lives of her husband and son, Stuart and Fraser Bates just 5 days after the Act. Believe ODS aims to destigmatise organ donation and raise awareness of the issue and encourage people and families to donate their organs. 

Anna-Louis Bates, founder of Believe ODS, said: “When my son died, by donating his organs four people received a second chance at life. Four people are alive today because of him, I think that’s amazing. That’s why I set up Believe ODS as I want to raise awareness for this important cause and dispel myths and misunderstandings around organ donation.

“Having a garden like this to sit, remember and give thanks is important for those who we have lost and who live on thanks to organ donation. We are so grateful to everyone who is supporting us with this scheme.”

The garden will also include an autograph and handprint wall of celebrities who are behind the project including Bear Grylls. Sophie Ingle, Mark Lewis Jones and Aaron Ramsey,

Willing volunteers from the Acorn consortium behind the new Velindre Cancer Centre (Nvcc) project, alongside the appointed contractor Sacyr Uk and Ireland are supporting Believe ODS with the scheme.  They are utilising their volunteering days as part of the Thrive Communities programme to make it happen alongside the groundwork’s contractor Tredomen Ltd, who are starting work on the garden at the beginning of August. 

Nicola Easdale of Tredomen Ltd said the company was thrilled to be working on the project with Anna and Believe ODS: "With our extensive experience in this field, we are eager to contribute to this meaningful initiative and honour the charity and donors who have made it possible. The passion driving this project inspires us, and we are excited to educate others on the importance of organ donation through our work."

Contractors Enviromesh have also committed to support the project and MS Group is also helping by creating a 3D design for the garden, which will be available to see using a QR code, as well as helping to create a wall of fame of those who support organ donation.  
Anna-Louise Bates, Sacyr UK’s Katie Hathaway, Lisvane and Thornhill Cllr John Lancaster, Beth Baldwin, Trustee for Believe ODS, Simon Morgan CEO at MS Group and Geraint Rees from Cardiff Council’s Bereavement Services, recently met to discuss the planned construction of the ‘Believe’ garden, a planned memorial service for past donors and the timeline of the build. 

Sacyr UK’s Stakeholder Engagement and Community Benefits Manager for nVCC, Katie Hathaway, said: “We are honoured to support the creation of the garden to help raise awareness for such an important cause. Not only does it stand as a tribute to those who have the gift of life through organ donation, but it is also a powerful reminder of the lives forever changed by their generosity.”

Cardiff Council’s Bereavement Service team have set out a timeline for clearing the space in the lead up to the garden’s construction. Cardiff Council Cabinet Member with responsibility for Bereavement Service, Cllr Norma Mackie, said: “It’s wonderful to be a part of this project, the educational opportunities around the garden are really far reaching and our Bereavement Services team are pleased to be able to host it at Northern Cemetery.”

For more information, contact Kath Chadwick at Front Door Communications on 029 20 020360 or email knock.knock@fdcomms.co.uk

We want to inform you that our construction team will be starting work earlier than usual on Friday 4th July.
A concrete pour has been scheduled to commence at 7:00 am, with some preparatory activities starting from 6:00 am. 
 
The construction team will ensure that any noise and disruption is minimised during these earlier hours.
 
This is to minimise the impact of construction vehicle movements on the community and to support anticipated traffic management measures in place for cultural events taking place over the weekend.
 
Should you have any further queries, please contact the team on the numbers below:

During working hours (8am-5pm):  Katie Hathaway, khathaway@sacyr.com - 07763 203360
Post working hours: Site mobile phone - 033 03414863
 
We apologise for any disruption this may cause and appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this time.
Thank you for your patience.

Sacyr UK, the contractor building the new Velindre Cancer Centre (nVCC), is delighted to share another success story following the one-year anniversary of a local man’s employment on the project.

Josh, aged 32 from Cardiff, is employed as a Cleaning Supervisor where he manages a small team of five cleaners on the nVCC site. Having previously been unemployed since 2023, he was referred to People Plus Restart, a scheme which helps long-term unemployed people to start working by providing employment support from skills training to interview preparation.

Following his referral, he was then identified as a suitable candidate for a long-term cleaning position with Sacyr UK which he started in April 2024. During the first six months of his new role, Josh impressed the team with his commitment and showed great leadership potential through his knowledge and skills from his background in manufacturing and cleaning.

From this, Josh was offered a promotion to Cleaning Supervisor and in January 2025 he was awarded the gold award for his commitment to the project, having been nominated by his peers.

On his role, Josh said: “I’m really grateful to both People Plus Restart and Sacyr UK for helping me get back into employment having been out of it since 2023. During this time most of the roles I started were short term agency assignment which was difficult especially trying to support a young family. Now I have the stability and security of a long-term role with Sacyr UK, so a massive weight has been lifted.”

Katie Hathaway, Sacyr UK’s stakeholder engagement community benefits manager at nVCC, said: “It’s been really rewarding supporting Josh on his journey back into full-time employment and he is a great asset to Sacyr UK. His knowledge and skills in his everyday work makes him a valued member of the team along with his determination and reliability. We are delighted to have worked with People Plus Restart to support Josh in finding stability again.”

Watch last month's construction progress!

New Velindre Cancer Centre - Newsletter 5

Sacyr UK, the contractor building the new Velindre Cancer Centre (nVCC), has partnered with Cardiff Council to launch a new project to support individuals who are looking to re-enter the workforce by providing them with pre-employment opportunities as well as practical work experience.  

The partnership involved regenerating a shipping container unit, known as the Resource Hub, which was sourced from EMR Cardiff’s recycling facility specifically for the nVCC. The container is now used as a temporary storage space for a variety of recyclable materials including timber, plywood, cardboard, bricks, and PPE and is available for collection and utilisation by verified organisations, ensuring that these valuable resources are donated and put to good use. 

Not only does the initiative showcase Sacyr UK’s dedication to supporting local social, voluntary and community organisations by donating 100 tonnes of material, but it was also aimed at supporting individuals and providing them with the essential skills and knowledge needed for future employment opportunities.  

The initiative offered a two-week course for six candidates, sourced by Onsite Construction Academy. It focused on ensuring participants attained a CSCS qualification, followed by a week focusing on practical work experience, identifying their potential for future employment within the company. The six participants chosen – Hamza, Liam, Kailim, Sophie, Kieran, and Josh – were supported by Dom, a ganger working on the project, who used this exercise as part of his NVQ assessment into site supervision. 

As part of the project, Sacyr UK collaborated with Kodie from PeoplePlus JGW+, who was the main force behind the design of the container that will be used on the nVCC site, creating a design that is not only visually impactful but also helps drive a sustainable change which aligns with Sacyr UK’s values. Harlequin Print Ltd was on hand to support with the donation of the printed design boards sourced in part from Cardiff Rugby, recycling material and promoting circular economy in every way possible. 

EMR Recycling, who sourced the shipping container, said: “EMR shares Sacyr’s commitment to creating lasting positive impact in the communities in which it operates, so are delighted to support the ‘Into Work’ initiative. The donation of the shipping container gives it a new life and supports the local community with surplus materials. EMR are also working with Sacyr to recycle the end-of-life metals from the project.”  

Hannah Jenkins, Workforce Development Coordinator at Sacyr UK said: “We are incredibly excited about this project. Not only are we helping LTU or NEET individuals back into work, but we are also reducing waste and supporting our local communities in a meaningful way.” 

We want to inform you that our construction team will be working extended hours overnight due to the upcoming high temperatures forecast.

The team will be working extended hours on two specific dates to carry out two long concrete pours. This is to avoid potential problems such as cracking in a key area of the new Velindre Cancer Centre site.

The construction team will ensure that any noise and disruption is minimised during the overnight works. 

The scheduled dates, with the possibility of minor adjustments due to unforeseen circumstances, are:
- Monday, June 16 (6pm - 8am)
- Monday, June 23 (6pm - 8am)
 
Please keep in mind that these times are approximate and may vary based on ambient and concrete temperature.

If you have any queries, please contact:
During working hours (8am-5pm):  Katie Hathaway, khathaway@sacyr.com - 07763 203360
Post working hours: Site mobile phone - 033 03414863

We apologise for any disruption this may cause and appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this time.

Thank you for your patience.

Acorn, the consortium behind the new Velindre Cancer development scooped the Best Healthcare Project Award at the Public Private Partnership (PPP) awards at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in May.

The PPP Awards take place each year and are a vital platform for both the public and private sector to be recognised for innovative and transformative work being carried out.

The judges found that team demonstrated how the new Velindre Cancer Centre (nVCC) is being built sustainably to provide cutting edge treatment at the new facility, by using sustainable materials, inclusion of the local community as well as a promise to protect the environment.

The nVCC will be the first significant Welsh investment aimed at supporting the government’s zero-carbon targets and will be the UK’s first fully electric health centre.

Jorge Beceiro Castresana, General Manager at nVCC, said of the awards ceremony held in London: “It was such an honour as we shared the stage with so many incredible people, all of whom have been instrumental in the success of this project.

“We are delighted to win such a prestigious award and it’s great to see our work being recognised especially after such a short amount of time. To build our name in just a year and go up against other global nominees is a huge testament to the passion and commitment shown by our team. The recognition of winning this award only fuels our determination to continue delivering excellence in all that we do for Velindre.

Maria Ortega Carreras, Project Director added: “Sacyr UK would like to say a massive thank you to all our staff and every person involved who has been there to support us along the way. The dedication and hard work that each person has shown has not gone unnoticed and without you, we would not have been able to achieve this wonderful milestone.”

The new Velindre Cancer Centre is one of the biggest projects Wales has seen in decades and is scheduled to open in Spring 2027.

You can read more about the awards here: https://www.partnershipsawards.com/finalists/new-velindre-cancer-centre-mim-project-1d1 

New Velindre Cancer Centre - Summary Monitoring Report - May 2025

April was a busy month for Sacyr UK, the contractor behind the new Velindre Cancer Centre (nVCC), as staff engaged with schools throughout Cardiff and Newport, offering career guidance, support, and workshops to students of all ages.

At the start of the month, Sacyr UK attended Newport Youth Academy to begin a series of presentations to students who are at high risk of being classified as NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training). The Academy provides tailored support and guidance to help individuals achieve positive outcomes - whether that's enrolling in a college course, completing targeted training, or securing employment. Sacyr UK’s Community Benefits Coordinator Joanne delivered a workshop to 15 students focused on interview preparation, offering practical tips and outlining key dos and don’ts. In the coming months, Sacyr UK will return to the Academy to deliver a follow-up presentation and a session on networking skills.

Joanne also took part in careers fairs at Cardiff and Vale College and Cantonian High School, speaking to students on Construction and Built Environment pathway courses, as well as offering advice on general construction roles and apprenticeship routes into the industry. The events gave students a valuable opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the specific opportunities available through the nVCC project.

They also visited Fitzalan High School as part of an event organised by Working Options, an organisation which provides career opportunities and educational guidance to 14–19-year-olds across England and Wales. Over 130 GCSE pupils from the school participated in three different sessions to learn more about the importance of teamwork and problem solving as well as fun challenges which involved building tetrahedrons out of dowel rods and elastic bands.

Finally, in what was a very busy month, Sacyr UK also attended an exciting ‘Lego League’ competition help at Ysgol Groeswen primary school in St Fagans, where year 6 pupils worked together in teams to partake in a challenging Lego-based STEM task involving robot programming, coding, constructing and a whole lot of Lego! Members of the Project team were there to help and support the pupils during their tests and had the difficult job of picking a winner! The pupils really impressed and delivered fantastic presentations outlining their robot designs, discussing how they worked together to build them and talking through any issues they had overcome along the way.

Maria Ortega Carreras, Project Director at nVCC, said: “It’s great to get so many pupils and students involved in these events as they take the first steps in their career after education. It’s important for them to see the opportunities available to them as well as the opportunities the nVCC project can provide them with.”

“This is an exciting time for the next generation of young adults in the area and we are here to support and guide them with their next steps, whether that be a specific career the nVCC can provide for them or those who take up other opportunities in the construction sector.”

Sacyr UK, the contractor building the new Velindre Cancer Centre (nVCC), introduced its new Community Platform to staff from Y Deryn family of schools to show them how it could help their students.

More than 50 teachers and staff from the Y Deryn family of schools, which is based in Leckwith, Mynachdy and University Hospital of Wales, Heath caters for students of all ages from Reception to Year 12. Staff were shown a presentation at Nyth Y Deryn, Mynachdy on March 6th showcasing Sacyr UK’s commitment to community engagement, education and collaboration.

Sacyr UK staff provided support and shared knowledge on how the platform works, what is on offer, and how it can be used as an educational enrichment tool for the students at, where tutorials and sections of the platform can be cherry-picked to suit the needs of each student. Isabel who works at Coed y Deryn based within Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital of Wales of is one of the first teachers piloting the platform supporting young patients with their learning journey away from a traditional education setting.

The platform was created to offer services, collaborations and tools to help the local community who are based around the new Velindre Cancer Centre, as well as the wider south Wales region. It is available to anyone aged 14 and over to provides a space where people can do everything from build their CV and access job boards, to offering tutorials across a range of subjects including science, engineering, mathematics and technology.

Katie Hathaway, Sacyr’s UK stakeholder engagement and community benefits manager at nVCC, said: “It’s always great to share what our new platform can achieve and demonstrate how it provides so many opportunities and benefits to the local community. The resources available on our platform are easily accessible and it was great to see how eager the teachers and staff at Y Deryn were to learn more about how it can be used at their school. Special thanks to Isabel who has been shaping the modules to support patients and its lovely to hear parents are getting involved too!

“Going forward, one of Sacyr’s main aims is that all schools in the region will have access to our platform which can provide pupils with significant educational resources.”

Katie added: “We’re really looking forward to seeing how many success stories will be created by the new platform, which will allow pupils to develop their skills, widen their network, as well as offer them access to new career and volunteering opportunities.”

Rachel Mann, Deputy Headteacher for Y Deryn Family of schools added, ‘Working with Katie and the Sacyr team is always a rewarding experience. The chance to create meaningful opportunities for our learners is incredibly exciting. We look forward to

exploring even more opportunities for our local cohort and witnessing the developments first hand. It's inspiring to see learners engaging with real-world, contextual learning through the new platform. We're excited to continue collaborating with our local partners, Sacyr on this journey.’

New Velindre Cancer Centre - Summary Monitoring Report - April 2025

In the first two months since the launch of the Acorn/Sacyr UK’s online Community Platform, more than 61 hours of e-learning has been completed. 

The online platform, which was launched in February by local Senedd Member Julie Morgan MS, was designed to make social value and working within the south Wales community more collaborative. It also aims to help join businesses with local community groups, forging new volunteering and charitable opportunities.

As well as this, it has an online forum, but it’s much more than that - it is also a place where people can build their CV and access job boards. And it already has one success story, as it helped 18 year old Ben Shears get his first step on the career ladder. He created his CV on the platform and successfully applied for an apprenticeship role advertised on the platform’s job board. 

The platform additionally offers online science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) tutorials for secondary school age children, allows local people to get access to a Tool Library and video lessons on how to use the tools they borrow.

Joanne Okeefe, Sacyr UK’s Community Benefits Coordinator and, said: “It is great to see that the platform is already been used extensively by so many people in the community. We were so pleased to see how many hours of e-learning had been accessed and completed just a few weeks after we launched the platform.
  
“We are really proud of what we have built with the platform and believe it is one of the first that has been created by a construction company to help facilitate collaborative social value. It has so many uses and many resources, it really is a place that you can easily spend a few hours and learn everything from how to use a power tool, to how to give back to your local community by volunteering. There aren’t many one stop websites like this available, and so we’re proud to have created one for the south Wales community in which we work in.”

To access the Acorn community platform, visit: https://acorn-sacyr.dreams-lms.org/rcd/login.php 

We want to inform community residents that our construction team will be working extended hours from 6pm to 8pm Monday to Thursday during the month of June.  

The extended working hours have been consented for a list of activities that we do not expect to make significant noise, focused on preparatory works mainly.

We apologise for any disruption this may cause and appreciate your understanding and co-operation during this time.

Thank you for your patience. If you have any questions, please contact us on 0330 341 4863.
 

We want to let you know that our construction team will be working extended hours on Wednesday 4th June.

This is so the team can carry out the necessary power floating of a slab after a concrete pour. We expect minimal disruption and appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this time.

Normal working hours are 8am to 6pm. The extension is for working after 6pm and the duration of the works will be weather dependant.  However, there should be a minimal amount of noise. 

Thank you for your patience. If you have any questions, please contact us on 0330 341 4863.
 

Watch last month's construction progress!

We want to let you know that our construction team will be working extended hours overnight on Wednesday May 28.

This is so the team can carry out the necessary power floating of a slab after a concrete pour. We expect minimal disruption and appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this time.

Normal working hours are 8am to 6pm. The extension is for working after 6pm and the duration of the works will be weather dependant. However, there should be a minimal amount of noise. 

Thank you for your patience. If you have any questions, please contact us on 07763 203360.