Coleg Cambria: £2.7m funding for Deeside Aerospace Training Facility.

The Welsh Government is to back a joint project between Coleg Cambria and Swansea University’s College of Engineering with £2.7m of funding for a new aerospace training academy in Deeside.

The new facility will train up to 75 Airbus apprentices and aerospace employees per year once fully operational.

The Aerospace Training Facility in Deeside and the Northern Gateway Highway Infrastructure will both benefit as part of a package of capital investment announced by Finance and Government Business Minister Jane Hutt.

The announcement was made as part of an additional package of over £46m capital investment to boost infrastructure, skills and boost economic growth across Wales.

To boost skills and training opportunities, £2.7 million will be in invested in an Airbus and Aerospace Training Facility for high level training and on-going support for aerospace manufacturing.

David Jones, Principal and Chief Executive of Coleg Cambria said
“We are delighted that the Welsh Government has decided to invest in a new HE Aero Engineering Centre at our Deeside site in partnership with Swansea University, one of Wales & the UK’s leading universities in manufacturing and materials” 

“It’s an excellent recognition of the superb work that’s been carried out between Coleg Cambria and locally-based aerospace and engineering firms over many years as well as the growing partnership being developed with Swansea University’s College of Engineering.“[pullquote cite=”David Jones, Principal and Chief Executive of Coleg Cambria” type=”right”]“Our focus at Coleg Cambria is to provide as many opportunities at the highest quality university level for the workforce, young people and the communities of the area we serve”.[/pullquote]The investment will provide fully equipped and linked tutorial centres in North East Wales and Swansea to allow efficient, carbon-friendly delivery of high-level training for higher apprentices in Airbus. The new development will address the training requirements of a global aerospace industry.
Northern Gateway 
£1.2m will also be provided to the Northern Gateway Highway Infrastructure which is the catalyst which will open up the site to further investment.

The road is pivotal, releasing 220 acres of prime employment land with the capacity to build 3.1million sq ft of employment facilities to accommodate up to 5,000 jobs.

The area will also benefit from Wales-wide pro-business investment including £33m for business support including initiatives such as the Wales Micro Business

Loan Fund to improve access to finance for micro-businesses and the Business Growth SME Business Fund to help realise the potential of fast growing medium sized companies. Further investment includes £5m for the Green Growth Fund – doubling the investment to date.

Deeside AM Carl Sargeant said: 

“I would also urge businesses in Alyn and Deeside to investigate the Wales Micro Business Loan Fund, the Business Growth SME Business Fund and the Green Growth Fund to see how they can help their firms with their growth plans.”