Construction starts on hi-tech education facility in Ebbw Vale

ISG has started work on the site of the former Monwel Hankinson factory, Ebbw Vale, to create a new hi-tech post-16 education facility.

The new 2,000m² High Value Engineering (HiVE) facility will provide state-of-the-art training and education for young people and businesses in the fields of robotics, advanced materials and manufacturing, and digital and enabling technologies.

In partnership with Coleg Gwent, and industry partners, the local council secured over £12M from the Welsh Government’s Tech Valleys programme and the UK Government to bring the redundant factory building back in to use and create the HiVE facility.

ISG Operations Director Kevin McElroy, said: “Maximising the opportunities that industry presents for individuals, our communities and the wider economy relies on us having the right domestic skills and expertise in place. We are learning that overseas investment in Wales and across the UK is increasingly dependent on workforce competencies, so a response in the form of this outstanding HiVE facility cannot be underestimated in terms of its impact and legacy.”

Close to Ebbw Vale town centre and the Coleg Gwent, Blaenau Gwent Learning Zone, the project will provide a high-quality teaching space with the capacity for up to 600 students, complete with classrooms, study areas and a range of workshop spaces.

The project is due to complete by July 2024 in time for the Autumn term