The purpose-built facility has been developed by Coleg Cambria in partnership with Swansea University’s College of Engineering and has been made possible through a Welsh Government £2.7m capital investment grant to boost infrastructure, skills and promote economic growth across Wales. It will provide higher education facilities for aeronautical and engineering students.

Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, said: “The Welsh Government is committed to investing in the future of our learners so they can truly fulfil their potential and boost our economy.

“I am pleased we have been able to provide £2.7 million towards the £3.36 million Aerospace Higher Education Centre which will provide students with a state of the art facility where they can develop their skills and take advantage of valuable training opportunities. These skills will play a key role in the growth of the regional economy and important sectors.

“The UK aerospace sector is the powerhouse of advanced manufacturing, and Wales is playing a vital part in its capability. This fantastic centre will play an important role in providing companies with the expertise and vocational skills to grow our capabilities even further and maintain our competitive advantages.”

The Centre includes state-of-the-art lecture rooms, lab spaces, computer suites, social spaces and a high-tech video-conferencing room. It has been designed to be highly sustainable, promoting the use of natural daylight and ventilation whilst also incorporating a number of sustainable technologies including air source heat pumps, rainwater harvesting, LED lighting and solar panels.

“I am delighted to be able to welcome Ken Skates AM, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure to open our exciting new University Centre,” said Coleg Cambria Chief Executive David Jones.

“This amazing facility is about working with employers in engineering and in advanced manufacturing and materials and has been made possible through our partnership with Swansea University and with the support of the Welsh Government. It gives us further opportunities to provide training at the highest quality university level for the workforce, young people and the communities of the area.

“We live and work in a great region – on this side of the national border alone we have a great Deeside Industrial Park, the emerging Northern Gateway, Hawarden Business Park, the magnificent Airbus facility in Broughton, and of course the Wrexham Business Park too.

“We need to look after the great businesses in this area so they can succeed and grow in this region. This means maintaining our sector-leading status by changing with the times and creating a capability and capacity in higher level skills that not only looks after current employers, but also provides a magnet for new ones.”

Image (top) used with the kind permission of Coleg Cambia.