WIREDGOV

The Economy Secretary, Ken Skates was in North Wales yesterday to see the difference that Welsh Government investment is making to the region’s economy and skills base.

The Cabinet Secretary officially opened Coleg Cambria’s new Aerospace Training facility which has benefitted from £2.7million of Welsh Government funding, and visited two thriving local companies being supported by the Welsh Government’s Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme. 

The new £3.36m Aerospace centre, which is a joint venture between Coleg Cambria and Swansea University, will mean that students studying aeronautic and engineering courses in the region have access to first class, modern training facilities.

It will also help ensure that local employers in the aeronautic and engineering sector, have access to the highly skilled labour they require. 

The Economy Secretary also visited the P&A Group in Mold, and Building Integrated Photovoltaic Company (BIPVco) who are based in the Tata Steel Shotton Works, both of whom have been accepted onto the Welsh Government’s Business Wales Accelerated Growth programme. 

P&A Group are a family run award-winning business who have  seen a year on year increase in turnover of up to 20% in their timber business over the past five years.

The Group currently employs 135 people and is benefiting from Welsh Government support to maximise its growth potential in what is a competitive market. Through its strategic growth plans for increased exporting and importing over the next five years it hopes to create more jobs for the  local area. 

BIPVco in Shotton is a collaboration between Swansea University and TATA and develops next generation photovoltaic panels using CIGS (Copper, Indium, Gallium and Selenide) thin-film technology for use on steel and aluminium roofing panels.

This hi-tech company has received £388k of Welsh Government funding this year which they will use to help safeguard existing jobs and create over 70 further positions by 2021.

Ken Skates said yesterday: 

“These visits really highlight the difference that Welsh Government investment is making to life here in North Wales. 

“The new Aerospace Higher Education Centre will provide students with a state of the art facility in which to develop high level and economically essential skills.

“The UK aerospace sector is the powerhouse of advanced manufacturing, and Wales is already playing a vital part in its capability. This fantastic centre will play an important role in providing companies with the expertise and vocational skills to grow Wales’ capabilities even further and maintain our competitive advantages.

“I was also delighted to visit two thriving companies that have been accepted onto our Welsh Government Business Wales Accelerated Support programme and are looking to expand and grow their businesses. 

“The need for innovative Welsh businesses is greater than ever before and I was delighted to hear of both company’ growth plans which I am confident will bring benefits to the region.

“Today’s visits really are a good example of the difference Welsh Government support  is making here  in North Wales." 

“Between 2012 and 2016  through Business Wales we helped to support 2976  jobs across the  six North Wales authority areas, and  assisted 2659 enterprises.  It is great to see the impact that this support is having  across the region.”