CITB: Construction Wales Innovation Centre opens in Swansea

The Construction Wales Innovation Centre (CWIC) has officially opened on the site of the £350 million SA1 Swansea Waterfront development, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has announced.

CWIC marks a milestone agreement between CITB and a consortium led by the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD). The £6.5 million centre will support future workforce needs, skills development and innovation in the Welsh construction sector, providing state-of-the-art facilities and training to individuals and organisations alike.

Central to the CWIC is the ConstructZone, with classrooms, dedicated IT suites and conference facilities also available and a scaffolding training facility sited nearby. Already, CWIC is delivering courses across Wales through partner colleges Coleg Sir Gâr, Coleg Cambria, Coleg y Cymoedd and Coleg Ceredigion as well as the Building Research Establishment (BRE). It is thought that 1,200 students will be trained via CWIC facilities across Wales each year.

According to the latest CITB Construction Skills Network research, the Welsh Construction industry is expected to grow quicker than any other region of the UK – with more than 12,000 new roles to be created in the industry by 2022. The centre will help meet the skills needs for future projects including the South Wales Metro and Wylfa Newydd.

“I am delighted that CWIC has officially opened its new state-of-the-art facilities where thousands of learners will get cutting-edge training that meets the needs of our changing industry,” said Mark Bodger, Partnerships Director for CITB Wales.

“CWIC reaffirms CITB’s commitment to the construction industry in Wales and shows what can be achieved by working in collaboration with employers, education providers and Welsh Government. CWIC has already made a huge impact on the sector in Wales through its partners across the nation, and the SA1 hub will help the industry to deliver and expand on its ambitions.”

Jane Davidson, Pro Vice Chancellor at University of Wales Trinity Saint David, added: “The UWTSD Group has a strong tradition in offering skills solutions for the construction industry at all levels. It is now particularly pleasing to be collaborating with CITB on delivering a much wider national vision for Wales. The launch of the CITB funded CWIC is a significant initiative on this journey and will be a major catalyst for delivering the Welsh Government’s Employability Plan for Wales.”

If you would like to read more articles like this then please click here.

The post CITB: Construction Wales Innovation Centre opens in Swansea appeared first on UK Construction Online.