Among the highlights of 2018 were two events headlined by Welsh rugby legend Sam Warburton, raising tens of thousands of pounds for the NSPCC and marking the achievements of students and staff at the north east Wales college.
Cambria also launched a unique food academy with esteemed chef Bryn Williams, to train the next generation of hospitality workers, and revealed collaborations with top organisations including the WRU (Welsh Rugby Union), Horseradish catering company, Wrexham AFC AGCO farm machinery, LEAF Education, Jones Bros civil engineers and Tilhill Forestry.
Worldskills was again a source of pride, with a 10-strong Wales shortlist for the finals in Shanghai featuring five Coleg Cambria learners – more than most UK regions – and the college received the best inspections in Wales for work-based learning and further education from Estyn.
With additional success in attracting students to join the Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award Scheme, the college’s best A level results and plaudits for diversity, health and safety, leadership, enterprise and more, it’s been a year to remember for the institution.
Chief Executive David Jones said he was “immensely proud” of students and staff, thanking the governors for their continued support and the community and industry heavyweights who continue to work side by side for the future of education and training in Wales.
“We look to improve every year, but 2018 was unlike anything we’ve seen before,” said Mr Jones.
“It just shows that hard work and unity can lead to great things, but of course, we will not rest on our laurels.
“We always aim to do better and reach new heights, for our learners and their families, the businesses we are so proud to be in partnership with and the schools and universities we work alongside.”
He added: “There are too many positive moments to choose from, but I must mention our incredible A level results and the many thousands of pounds we raised for the NSPCC.
“To have welcomed Sam Warburton here twice in a matter of months for a fundraising evening and our student awards was a testament to our growing stature, and the levels we have reached in collaborating with elite names in sport, business, education and the charity sector.
“The challenge now is to aim even higher in 2019, and it’s a challenge we relish.”
Coleg Cambria is set for a busy start to the year, including the first phase of construction on the £20million redevelopment at Yale in Wrexham.
Plans feature the latest digital technology, a 200-seat conference hall, meeting and staff rooms, acutting edge study space, revolutionary sports facilities and IT suites, and come after the college unveiled £40m of modern new buildings in 2017-18, including the £10m engineering technology complex and campus redevelopment on Bersham Road in Wrexham, and a £3.5m Business School in Northop.
John Clutton, chair of the Board of Governors at Cambria, said: “When we started out on this journey in 2013 we had a vision for how the next five to 10 years would look, but we have far surpassed that,” he said.
“From the management team to staff, students and our partners it’s been a massive team effort to take Coleg Cambria from a brand-new college to the levels reached in 2018. Here’s to another prosperous year.”
