WIREDGOV

NDA and Magnox helped buy leading-edge equipment for new Engineering Centre, CaMDA, in South Gwynedd.

Opening of Coleg Meirion Dwyfor. Jonathan Jenkin and Lord Dafydd Ellis Thomas observe trainiee.

The future looks bright for skills training in South Gwynedd following the opening last week of CaMDA – Grŵp Llandrillo Menai’s brand new Construction and Engineering Centre at Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor, Dolgellau.

CaMDA will provide enhanced Construction and Engineering Training for learners attending Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor, Dolgellau. This new development is a major extension and up-grade of the old construction facilities, uniting all the Construction trades and Engineering in one purpose designed department.

The new centre was officially opened by Lord Elis-Thomas AM PC. The opening ceremony was attended by:

• Glyn Jones, CEO Grŵp Llandrillo Menai, Linda Wyn, Principal Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor
• Dr Ian Rees, Principal Coleg Menai
• Jonathan Jenkin, NDA’s Stakeholder Relations and Socio Economic Manager
• Graham Moore, Site Director and David Cabrera, Engineering Manager – representatives from Magnox’ Trawsfynydd Site 

Substantial investment from the Welsh Government backed the project. The project also received backing from:

• Gwynedd Council
• Snowdonia National Park
• Gwynedd Werdd

It has also been given a major boost with funding from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, through the Magnox socio-economic scheme, to purchase leading-edge equipment and machinery for a purpose-built Engineering Workshop.

Jonathan Jenkin commented:

“The NDA is committed to supporting initiatives that minimise the impact of decommissioning Trawsfynydd Site. We are delighted to support CaMDA in providing young people with the right skills to take up opportunities within Snowdonia Enterprise Zone and other development projects within the region.”

Linda Wyn, Principal Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor, outlined the importance the role CaMDA will play in education and training in the area:

“We are delighted to see this important project come to fruition. This is a substantial investment at our Marian Mawr site which has resulted in excellent training facilities serving the needs of young people and employers in the Meirionnydd area and beyond.

“Not only are we able to greatly improve the quality of our current learners’ experiences, but we now have the capability to develop a range of new courses which will lead to high quality employment and boost the local economy. This is a much-needed development for the area, providing great opportunities for developing the skills of both school leavers and those in employment”.

Grŵp Llandrillo Menai (the College Group comprising Coleg Llandrillo, Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor and Coleg Menai) offers a range of qualifications, including degrees, in a wide number of subjects such as Construction, Automotive Engineering and Building Services.