Blaenau Gwent鈥檚 Council Executive has today (14 April 2021) approved the Advanced Engineering Centre report that endorses a funding bid to the Welsh Government.
The report proposes to establish a leading engineering centre which would support hundreds of learners in Ebbw Vale.
The plans include refurbishment of the former Monwell factory in Letchworth Road, Ebbw Vale, to create an Advanced Engineering Centre.
The state-of-the-art facility would be a pioneering Centre of Excellence, which would be capable of delivering a new curriculum fit for the engineering industry of the future.
The Council is working with Coleg Gwent. Around 600 learners are expected to attend the centre by 2026/27 on a range of full-time, part-time, higher education and apprenticeship courses.
Regeneration Director, Richard Crook Says:
鈥淭his project brings together Tech Valleys, Coleg Gwent and a number of partners to develop its vision of a global centre for the development of new technologies. It will create an environment that will attract hi-tech inward investors within the advanced manufacturing sector.
鈥淭he Advanced Engineering Centre will be constantly adapting to produce highly trained students who have a real passion for engineering and upskill the current engineering workforce, ready for the next industrial revolution. The partnership with the Aspire Shared Apprenticeship Programme will ensure local industry are provided with skilled young people for the jobs of the future.鈥�
The initiative is supported by The Tech Valleys board. If the funding bid is approved, the facility is expected to open in September 2022. The centre will support Tech Valleys vision for South Wales Valley and Blaenau Gwent to be recognised as a global centre for the development of new technologies by 2027.