AMMAN Valley MakerSpace has been praised for its involvement in producing over 11,000 face shields for hospitals and healthcare.

Mid and West Wales MS, Joyce Watson, praised Amman Valley MakerSpace along with other Welsh innovators who have stepped up to help during the coronavirus crisis.

Mrs Watson had previously met Robert Venus, who runs the Amman Valley scheme, based in Glanaman, where she supported a range of community and training projects he has led.

She said: "Robert Venus, his team and all the partners who made this happen exemplify what can be achieved with imagination, collaboration and energy. They are saving lives and their efforts must continue to be supported."

Speaking to the Business Minister in the virtual Senedd, Mrs Watson raised Wales' future economic challenges, particularly in those areas which are heavily dependent on tourism and will be impacting by ongoing social distancing measures.

Mrs Watson highlighted the importance of small community innovators, saying Wales had to be more sustainable, and investment in innovation is one of the ways forward, as well as looking after the existing industries that bring vast wealth to this country.

Business Minister Ken Skates MS responded: "Joyce Watson is absolutely right—we've seen incredible innovation across Welsh businesses during the course of the crisis. We've seen distilleries turn their hands to making hand sanitiser, we've seen businesses in the aero sector produce ventilators, we've seen a huge number of businesses producing vital PPE, and I'm in no doubt that those efforts will continue for some weeks to come."