The build of a multi-million-pound High Value Engineering Campus (HiVE) in Blaenau Gwent is complete, ready to welcome STEM learners from across the country in September.
Blaenau Gwent Council, who led the project, today officially handed the facility over to Coleg Gwent, who will spend the summer kitting out the space with state-of-the-art robotics, advanced manufacturing technologies, and immersive digital tools.
The 21,808-square-foot campus will offer high-tech training and education for young people and businesses in robotics, and advanced manufacturing in fields such as automotive, aerospace, and information technology.
The Council secured £10.8million funding from UK Government (£9.3m Levelling Up Funding & £1.5m SPF Funding) and £4.8million from the Welsh Government’s Tech Valleys programme to transform the former Monwel Hankinson factory site in Ebbw Vale.
The opportunities HiVE will bring to local education and skills development aligns with the Council’s priority to ‘maximise learning and skills for all to create a prosperous, thriving, resilient Blaenau Gwent’, as well as the Marmot Principles to ‘enable all children, young people and adults to maximise their capabilities’ and ‘create fair employment and good work for all.’
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, said:
“This fantastic new facility forms a key part of our vision to transform the South Wales Valleys into a globally recognised hub for innovation, advanced manufacturing, and sustainable technologies.
“It will help inspire the next generation of engineers, remove barriers to STEM learning, and create a pipeline of talented young people who have the skills needed for well-paid careers in the industries of the future.”
Councillor John Morgan, Blaenau Gwent Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy & Place, says:
“I’m delighted we can now announce the completion of the HiVE Campus. This high-tech facility is going to be a real game changer in both the opportunities it will give young people to train in the industries of now and of the future, and for businesses who require a skilled workforce to want to come to the local area, resulting in inward investment.
“Hive has faced some challenges during its build, and I want to commend everyone involved for their commitment and vision in delivering this hugely important project. Thank you to the UK and Wales Governments for awarding the funding to make this a reality. I am so proud that we have this in Blaenau Gwent, and I look forward to seeing the STEM stars of the future in action.”
Nicola Gamlin, Principal of Coleg Gwent, said:
“We’re proud to take ownership of the state-of-the-art HiVE facility, a landmark development for education and skills in Blaenau Gwent and beyond. Over the summer, we’ll be working hard to equip HiVE with cutting-edge technology to create an inspiring, hands-on environment for STEM learning. We’re excited to welcome our first cohort of learners this September.”
Located close to Ebbw Vale town centre and the Coleg Gwent Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone, the facility will be available to all residents across Wales as well as students at Coleg Gwent studying engineering-based courses, helping to facilitate and increase footfall across the town centre supporting local retail business.
The learning starts even before HiVE however, with the HiVE Hub Programme in local schools. Funded by Welsh Government Tech Valleys and UK Government, and in partnership with Coleg Gwent, this is an innovative programme of engineering education centred on industry in schools and STEM facilitation. The programme is creating meaningful and sustainable links between the college and Blaenau Gwent schools to support high quality and inspirational learning experiences; aligned to future progression opportunities at HiVE.
